Patents Examined by Hoi C. Lau
  • Patent number: 11238741
    Abstract: A driving evaluation apparatus configured to evaluate level of safety driving by drivers belonging to any one of groups organized hierarchically, includes: microprocessor and memory. The microprocessor is configured to function as: a location information acquisition unit configured to acquire location information of the drivers from mobile terminals; an evaluation value calculation unit configured to calculate driving evaluation value based on the location information of the drivers; a driving evaluation unit configured to rank the plurality of drivers within a belonging group or rank the belonging group by comparing the belonging group with other groups regarding the level of safety driving based on the driving evaluation value; and an output unit configured to output a ranking result. The management information includes location information of speed management area for managing travel speeds of the mobile bodies and information of threshold for determining overspeed, settable by user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Hagiwara, Mitsuhiro Baba, Akihiro Hirashima, Tomoyuki Nitta
  • Patent number: 11232704
    Abstract: A smoking detection device with tamper countermeasures is disclosed. A smoking detection circuit includes a smoke and gas sensor is configured to detect a smoking event within an enclosed space of a property, such as a vehicle or a hotel room. Tamper countermeasures prevent a renter from interfering with the detection function of the smoking detection device. The device also includes an event recording element that provides an evidentiary backup in the event of a power failure of the smoking detection device. The event recording element includes a light emitter that is triggered by one or more of smoking detection event and a tamper event. The light emitter exposes a patch of photo sensitive material, that once exposed provides for a visual means of identifying a smoking event or a tamper event during a rental period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Donesha Baldwin Gardner
  • Patent number: 11232864
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing a multi-action button for mobile devices are provided. Alerts are received and multi-action buttons are determined corresponding to the alerts and clinicians associated with mobile devices. The multi-action buttons are displayed on the mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: CERNER INNOVATION, INC.
    Inventors: Jay Christopher Vaglio, Matt Ryan Anderson
  • Patent number: 11228894
    Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus includes (i) a wireless communicator capable of broadcasting an extended advertising packet having a large transmittable capacity and a compatible advertising packet having a transmittable capacity smaller than the extended advertising packet, and (ii) a processor. The wireless communicator periodically broadcasts the extended advertising packet based on a command from the processor. The processor sets offset information for acquiring of a time at which the extended advertising packet is receivable in an offset notification packet that is the compatible advertising packet, and broadcasts the offset notification packet via the wireless communicator. The offset information is set based on a transmission timing of the offset notification packet and a transmission timing of the extended advertising packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuho Kyou, Sadao Nagashima, Hiroshi Iwamiya, Tsutomu Terazaki, Toshihiro Takahashi, Takahiro Tomida
  • Patent number: 11222543
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining traffic information with the aid of a central monitoring device which is in communication with a plurality of fleet vehicles in order to obtain traffic information from the fleet vehicles, wherein within communication with the fleet vehicles the monitoring device transmits targeted measurement requests to the fleet vehicles. In one exemplary aspect, the invention proposes that during the transmission of targeted measurement requests, the monitoring device takes account of the quality of sensors with which the individual fleet vehicle are equipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Merfels, Constanze Hungar, Bernd Rech, Thilo Schaper, Daniel Wilbers, Niklas Koch, Florian Haubner, Simon Seitle
  • Patent number: 11217077
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an appliance for holding electronically tagged products and for recording an association between the tagged products and the appliance, and system and methods for use thereof. In one implementation, the appliance may include a housing defining a cavity for retaining the electronically tagged products. The appliance may also include an exciter integrated with the housing and configured to trigger tags of the products to cause the tag of each product to transmit a unique tag ID. The appliance may also include a receiver for receiving transmission of each unique tag ID. The appliance may also include a communicator for outputting indications of identities of electronically tagged products retained in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: NEXITE LTD.
    Inventors: Anat Shakedd, Lior Shakedd
  • Patent number: 11202526
    Abstract: A porch piracy parcel theft prevention system and method includes a delivery location apparatus configured for adaption to a building to receive a parcel, the delivery location apparatus including a sensor and a parcel locking mechanism. The sensor is configured to detect the presence of a delivered parcel placed into the line of sight of the parcel detecting sensor. The parcel locking mechanism is armed upon entry of a carrier code and disarmed upon entry of a user code. When armed, the parcel locking mechanism is configured to trigger an alarm when the parcel detected locking mechanism detects removal of the parcel from the line of sight of the parcel detecting sensor. When disarmed, the package may be removed from the line of sight of the parcel detecting sensor without tripping the alarm. Among other uses, helps prevent parcel theft from single family dwellings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Paul R. Juhasz
  • Patent number: 11178983
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for securing a wearable electronic against unauthorized removal from a display counter. An insert module has an interstitial space shaped to accommodate the geometry of the wearable electronic. The insert module has an open configuration, in which the wearable gadget can be received into the interstitial space, and a closed configuration, in which the wearable gadget cannot be removed from the interstitial space. A universal cradle configured to receive the insert module. The universal cradle having an interlocked configuration in which the universal cradle is configured to retain the insert module in the closed configuration. A locking member is configured to immobilize the universal cradle in the interlocked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Vanguard Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Kelsch, Jasen Paul Biggins, Lee Eckert, John N. Figh, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11172467
    Abstract: A transponder and system are described for sharing vehicle lane data in a vehicle-to-vehicle safety system. It generates and broadcasts internally generated location points; and receives, processes and stores lane data received from other equipped vehicles. Physical lanes are represented by a sequence of logical lanes. Both the internal and external location points are aggregated into logical lanes. These logical lanes in turn are shared between vehicles via requests and replies. Each vehicle, within a temporary range, is considered a distinct vehicle. For each logical lane separate counts are maintained for the number of distinct vehicles that provided internal data, provided internal data shared once, and total data shared more than once. Internal data continues to aggregate until the logical lane changes. Total shared data is capped at a maximum of internal counted distinct vehicles and received distinct vehicle counts, to avoid counting the same (shared) data over and over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Zetta Research and Development LLC—ForC Series
    Inventors: Kim Rubin, Jonathan N. Betts-Lacroix
  • Patent number: 11170623
    Abstract: A portable hazard communicator device including a portable housing, a visual warning indicator, an audio warning indicator, a receiver, a first control unit, a second control unit and an attachment unit. The portable housing has an internal cavity for housing a plurality of light elements. The visual warning indicator is integrated within the housing for displaying a hazard message upon activation of the visual warning indicator. The audio warning indicator unit is integrated within the housing for emitting a hazard sound upon activation of the audio warning indicator. The receiver is configured to receive one or more signals from a companion device, and the one or more signals includes a power on signal. The first control unit is configured to activate and deactivate the visual warning indicator. The second control unit is configured to activate and deactivate the audio warning indicator. The attachment unit attaches the portable housing to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Cheryl Spencer
  • Patent number: 11158190
    Abstract: A recommended driving output device, system, and method allow for outputting preferable information to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Akachi
  • Patent number: 11151874
    Abstract: A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11145182
    Abstract: An automated alert system, device and method designed to deliver crisis notifications within seconds to law enforcement personnel. The alert system and method is designed to enhance the response time to an active shooter scenario, thereby minimizing the number of causalities or victims associated with such dangerous scenarios. The system and method uses combination of various hardware components, cellular automation and partnership with first responders to provide an advanced alert system which ensures quick responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ALERT PATENT HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Hector Delgado, Devon Bradley, Adam Smith
  • Patent number: 11135131
    Abstract: A medication bottle includes an outer container wall, an inner container wall and a fluid, such as an aversive liquid, located between the walls. In another aspect, the fluid is located within separate compartments or channels located between the walls where the walls contact or are secured to each other. A further aspect provides a removeable cap including multiple sensors, at least one of which is a biometric sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Bahar Aliakbarian, Muhammad Rabnawaz, Susan E. Selke, Krystal Cheng, Arun Ross, Austin Cozzo, Anurag Chowdhury, Ali Tamayol, Carina Russell, Prem Chahal
  • Patent number: 11132885
    Abstract: A remote temperature monitoring system includes a first unit operatively connected to one or more temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of one or more materials or food items being cooked or heated. The first unit transmits the sensed temperature to a second unit that is located remotely from the first unit during heating. The second unit is programmable with the desired temperature and/or heating parameters of the item. By monitoring the temperature status of the item over time, the system determines when the food has reached the desired temperature or degree of cooking, and notifies the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Allen, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11127298
    Abstract: An intersection speed deciding method includes a dataset obtaining and calculating step and a speed adjusting step. At least one of the vehicles expected to pass through one of the points is defined as the approaching vehicle, and a first arrival time of the approaching vehicle is obtained. Whether a preceding vehicle is on the host route is judged. If yes, a second arrival time of the preceding vehicle is obtained. Whether the host vehicle is expected to wait for a red light is judged. If yes, a red light duration is obtained. A time difference exists between a best arrival time and a corresponding expected arrival time, and each time difference is minimized based on the first arrival time, the second arrival time and the red time duration. A speed of the host vehicle is adjusted or remained based on the expected arrival times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Wang, Tsung-Ming Hsu, Yu-Rui Chen
  • Patent number: 11124114
    Abstract: Blind spot detection and alert systems, devices, and methods are provided herein. An example device includes an optical surface having a plurality of indicator elements; and a controller having a processor and a memory for storing instructions, the processor executing the instructions to control a visual attribute of at least a portion of the plurality of indicator elements displayed on the optical surface to indicate a second vehicle being in a blind-spot of a first vehicle for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Frazier, Jeremy Lerner, Taylor Hawley, Joseph Gifford
  • Patent number: 11127271
    Abstract: An illustrative example monitoring device includes a plurality of radiation sources that respectively emit a different type of radiation. At least one radiation detector is situated to detect radiation emitted the radiation sources and reflected off airborne particles. The radiation detector has a first sensitivity configured for detecting a concentration of the particles within a first range and a second sensitivity configured for detecting a concentration of the particles within a second, different range. A processor is configured to determine a ratio of the types of detected radiation, a type of the particles reflecting the detected radiation based on the ratio, and the concentration of the particles reflecting the detected radiation based on the first or second sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marcin Piech, Peter R. Harris, Michael J. Birnkrant, Michael T. Gorski, David L. Lincoln
  • Patent number: 11117516
    Abstract: A lift detection and alert assembly for detecting lifting of a tow vehicle and for alerting a crane operator includes an alert module and a sensing module, which are mountable to a tow vehicle having a load engaged thereto. The alert module provides notification to an operator of a crane that is engaged to and operable upon the load. The sensing module detects vertical movement of the tow vehicle and signals the alert module thereof. The alert module notifies the operator of the crane in event the tow vehicle is being lifted in conjunction with the load to prevent damage to the tow vehicle and injury to a driver thereof. The present invention is anticipated for use with terminal tractors that are utilized to move shipping containers at cargo yards, warehouse facilities, and intermodal facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Fernando Garza
  • Patent number: 11113947
    Abstract: A reminder device includes a frame-shaped base defining an opening and configured to be mounted over and around an operational button/handle located in a vehicle or in a home; a lid coupled to the frame-shaped base and configured to close over said frame-shaped base, covering said opening and blocking access to said operational button/handle; a circuit configured to product an audible message upon receiving a trigger signal, said circuit being located in at least one of said framed-shaped base and said lid; and a switch including a first component located on said frame-shaped base and a second component located on said lid and so configured that when said first component and second component are separated from each other by a predetermined distance, when the lid is opened, the switch causes the creation of said trigger signal and the production of said audible alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Yeoshua Sorias