Patents Examined by Glen R. Swann, III
  • Patent number: 5313193
    Abstract: An identification system is disclosed which includes marks on an object for locating a region of the object which contains an identification in the form of either an etching or a responsive electronic circuit and a detection device for detecting the proximity of the first mark in order to localize the position of the etching or responsive electronic circuit so that the etching or responsive electronic circuit may be read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Dubois, John Magarshack
  • Patent number: 5311168
    Abstract: A self-contained alarm/annunciator system for a door provides an alarm function and a flashing LED when the door is locked to deter attempted burglary, and an annunciator function operable when the door is unlocked to indicate attempted door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Pease Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Pease, Jr., William W. Kling
  • Patent number: 5311166
    Abstract: A security system for a vestibule and, more specifically, a security vestibule is equipped with monitoring devices to monitor the presence of an intruder. The monitoring devices transmit signals to warning devices, such as a speaker which broadcasts an audible message as well as a siren and a flashing light which produce audible and visual signals, respectively, to attract attention exteriorly of the vestibule. The monitoring devices further transmit signals to deterrent devices which disturb or offend the perpetrator. The devices are of the type which disperse foul scents, dispense dyes to mark the perpetrator, disperse water at varying temperatures, and discharge electrical shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Filmore O. Frye
  • Patent number: 5309146
    Abstract: Rooms in a building each have a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC), a room control unit having a temperature controller, and various sensors. The control unit monitors the presence of persons in the room, determines the season, sets back the temperature in an empty room by a variable amount which the HVAC can restore in a given time, and restores the temperature to the previous user request when the user returns but to a standard temperature if the user has newly checked in. An outside hallway panel briefly displays, when interrogated by a maid, a person's presence. By monitoring maid requests, door status and maid activity, the unit indicates on a room map whether the room is being cleaned, clean, or ready to rent. By establishing the heat loss/gain (lg) factor of a room with the HVAC off and comparing it with the time to heat or cool the room, HVAC failures are determined. By comparing a room's lg factor with those of its neighbors, room environment failures are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Electronic Environmental Controls Inc.
    Inventor: Ran Kenet
  • Patent number: 5309145
    Abstract: A clock, a lamp, an alarm, a motion detector and a smoke alarm are advantageously combined in a travel device which provides the user with both convenience and security when travelling. The motion detector detects motion and controls the delivery of an alarm signal and/or the delivery of light from the lamp. If motion occurs under circumstances suggesting that an intruder is present or if smoke is detected, the alarm signal and the degree of illumination alert the user to a potential security concern. If motion occurs under circumstances indicating the user is present and engaging in normal activities, the illumination is sufficient for those activities. If motion is not detected during a predetermined time period, suggesting that the user has gone to sleep, the illumination is ended. The alarm and the illumination may also be activated by clock functions, thereby achieving alarm clock functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Samsonite Corporation
    Inventors: Allan C. Branch, Gregory W. O'Connor, Barbara A. Thurston
  • Patent number: 5307054
    Abstract: A seismic circuit controller includes a ring-shaped first conductor; a second conductor defining a concave conductive surface; a base for supporting the first conductor horizontally oriented above the second conductor, the second conductor being concave upwardly, the conductors being connected in a circuit having first and second circuit nodes. A conductive ball that rollably contacts the second conductor makes electrical contact between the first and second conductors in response to lateral movement of the conductors, an SCR latch circuit of the controller maintaining a low-impedance current flow between the first and second circuit nodes in response to the electrical contact between the first and second conductors when the controller is connected in series with a battery and a load. A control switch that is also connected in series with the load arms the controller when ON and resets the latch circuit when OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventors: Milburn K. Concannon, Sr., Thantus M. Concannon, Milburn K. Concannon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5307053
    Abstract: A hunter alert device (9) for use by hunters when hunting wild game consists of transmitter means (21), receiver means (22), an antenna (11), a transceiver controller (20), and an indicator means (12). The device (9) operates by intermittently transmitting a modulated radio frequency signal through antenna (11) and listening for radio frequency signals transmitting from alert devices worn by other hunters. When a signal is detected, the receiver means (22) determines whether the signal is within a predetermined range of the hunter and, if so, activates the indicator means (12) to warn the hunter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Lucile A. Wills
    Inventors: George W. Wills, Phillip R. Wills
  • Patent number: 5307051
    Abstract: A night light apparatus and method alters the environment of a room, particularly a darkened room, in response to an audio input such as a child's voice. The apparatus and method is adapted to provide a sense of security to a child in a room in order to improve the child's sleeping habits and reduce or eliminate the child's fear of the dark or the child's fear of being left alone. A predetermined audio level in the darkened room is sensed. If the audio level exceeds a background noise level, a signal is generated and an audio output and a light output are activated. The audio output may include a bedtime story or a soothing song. The light output may include an image such as a cartoon character that is lit. A fire and smoke detector may also be included to activate audio instructions to a child in the event of a fire. The apparatus may be suitably programmed to transmit a signal to a remote location and activate an object warning device and/or a motion generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Steven R. Sedlmayr
  • Patent number: 5304982
    Abstract: A dual frequency field is generated to produce an interrogation zone wherein the higher frequency is substantially higher than the lower frequency. The signal generated by the magnetic marker is detected, filtered and amplified. Time windows are selected at the expected pulse locations of a signal. The signals detected at the time windows are multiplied by a window function. The product resulting therefrom is averaged to produce a demodulated signal and the presence of a marker in the interrogation zone is determined by detecting the demodulated signal at the lower frequency of the dual frequency interrogation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Cordery
  • Patent number: 5300921
    Abstract: A position processor can be mounted on the head of an athlete by means of, for example, a head band. The position processor includes a sensor in the form of a twelve position mercury switch for sensing the direction and angle of tilt of the head. The ON/OFF states of the switches of the sensor are sampled by a multiplexer under the control of a microprocesor. The multiplexer presents the ON/OFF states to the microprocessor for further procesing. Software of the microprocessor processes the sensed ON/OFF states through filtering and hysterisis algorithms and conveys the processed states as positional information to the athlete as a pattern of lights and tones. Proper and improper head positions are indicated for a plurality of directions of tilt. The system uses software filtering to provide hysterisis in order to eliminate rapid changes of state of the switches of the sensor due to sporadic movement caused by the motion of the athelete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Rhys Resources Ins.
    Inventors: David J. Hoch, Alexander R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5298884
    Abstract: A wearable tag for use with an electronic house arrest monitoring (EHAM) system, or equivalent, is held against a limb of its wearer by a lockable strap. The tag includes tamper detection circuitry for detecting any attempt to remove the tag by cutting or breaking the strap, even when such cutting occurs in the presence of an electrolyte. The strap has a conductor imbedded therein that is in electrical contact, through known resistances, with respective terminals on the tag. The tamper detection circuit detects any change in the resistance of the strap. Further, the terminals are made of, or coated with, dissimilar metals, so that should the tag be immersed in an electrolyte, and the strap cut, the resulting galvanic action between the terminals allows the cut strap to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: BI Incorporated
    Inventors: Jack A. Gilmore, Donald A. Melton, Robert A. Null
  • Patent number: 5291180
    Abstract: The proposed LC structure is comprised of a flexible insulative layer folded back on itself about a predetermined foldline, said insulative layer having on one surface an electrically conductive layer configured to form first and second alike planar multi-turn spirals which, in a like folded superposition, counter turn against each other (if viewed from the same side) alinged face-to-face, and turn by turn, spaced by said folded flexible insulative layer. At least first and second substantially two-dimensionally shaped conductive layer portions connect to said first and second multi-turn spirals on opposite sides of said foldline, thereby juxtaposing each other and having sandwiched therebetween at least said dielectric layer, and leaving between each other an elongated region in which said conductive layer is predominantly absent, for thus opposing any tendency of said layers to fold along any line other than said predetermined foldline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventor: Max-E. Reeb
  • Patent number: 5289164
    Abstract: A protection apparatus aids a user of the apparatus in defending against an attacker and signals that the user is being attacked. The protection apparatus attaches a spray retardant and an alerting device to the user of the apparatus and includes a trigger mechanism that activates both the spray retardant and the alerting device substantially simultaneously. The trigger mechanism is capable of being activated by a single digit of a hand of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: BooFoo Ideas, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Novak
  • Patent number: 5289162
    Abstract: A combination of a freezer/refrigerator appliance door ajar alarm indicating system with an appliance occupant emergency condition indicating system in a single unit utilizes two visual indicator means, one for each of the emergency conditions, and an audio alarm means with two tone operation, one for each of the emergency conditions indicated. The alarm system incorporates a first light indicator means in conjunction with a first audio alarm means that is triggered in response to a door ajar condition switch is being activated for longer than a preset period of time. The time period before the alarm is triggered may be adjusted by means of timer circuitry. The alarm system also incorporates a manually operated switch installed on the interior of the appliance that allows an occupant of the appliance to indicate to those on the outside the existence of an emergency condition that requires assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventor: Steven M. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 5285194
    Abstract: An EAS system having a protection zone in which tags are to be detected and a transition zone outward of the protection zone beyond which tagged articles for sale and/or monitoring can be displayed. The EAS system includes a receiving and processing unit which processes received signals in accordance with first and second different criteria to develop a first signal which can, be used to indicate the presence of a tag in the protection zone and a second signal which can be used to indicate the presence of a tag in the transition zone. Visual indication of the tags in the transition zone is also selectively provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: David B. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 5285191
    Abstract: A planar LC marker construction useful as an electromagnetically interrogatable transponder is comprised of at least two conductive paths forming planar clockwise and counterclockwise turning spiral patterns (if viewed from the same side) aligned face-to-face, and turn by turn, in opposition to each other, and spaced by an insulative layer. The layer may have various components, at least one of which may be an adhesive layer to co-perform a capacitive function at radio frequency. At least in part that layer may configure as a sheet. The construction features a superior in-system detectivity owing to a very low RF electromagnetic field deflection, and can be produced cheaply for one-time use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventor: Max E. Reeb
  • Patent number: 5281952
    Abstract: A device for determining whether a darkened enclosure has been opened by an unauthorized user. Though it responds to the presence of light, the device may be actuated either in light or in darkness without compromising its performance. When placed into a darkened enclosure, the device has the capacity of informing the authorized user of a possible unauthorized opening. After an unauthorized opening, an audible alarm would be triggered for a predetermined period of time. Subsequent to the cessation of this audible alarm, the authorized user by viewing the status of a light emitting diode after depressing an on/off switch, can determine whether an unauthorized user has gained access to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Stephen Dragan
  • Patent number: 5281953
    Abstract: A purse alarm includes a unitary housing mounted within the purse having a heat sensor to activate a latching circuit, whereupon sensing of heat such as by an unauthorized individual within the purse cavity effects actuation of an alarm to direct a tone generator to effect audible alarm through an associated speaker of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventors: Carlos E. Torres, Evelyn A. Mundo-Torres
  • Patent number: 5281955
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring operation and recording status of at least one battery component of an uninterruptable power supply is provided. Physical parameters of a battery are sensed and stored upon deviation from preselected limits. In addition, the present value of the physical parameters are displayed. Back-up power is supplied upon the interruption of utility power. Furthermore, an operator is signaled with an alarm when utility power is interrupted or there is deviation from preselected battery operation limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: C & D Charter Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory N. Reich, Randall Hertzler
  • Patent number: 5280274
    Abstract: A method of measuring and expressing the unwound amount or residual amount of a web roll, such as carbon film roll or printing paper roll in terms of a unit length of the web roll includes the steps of: starting a count of pulses to be produced by a rotation displacement detecting sensor for each predetermined angle of rotational displacement when the residual amount of the web roll is considered to have been reduced to a predetermined value; and emitting a warning signal when the count reaches a predetermined count number (initially set on the basis of the average value of the amounts of unwinding rotation of the web roll per unit length) during the time when the web roll is unwound and fed by a unit length from the count start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Kanzaki Paper Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Uemura, Setsuo Sasabe, Takayasu Hongo