Patents Examined by Jeffery Hofsass
  • Patent number: 9349272
    Abstract: A bandage container (100) is provided with a container body (101) having a base (103) and a plurality of sidewalls (104,105) extending from the base to define a bandage receiving cavity (201). A lid (102) is coupled to the container body to pivot between a closed position and an open position. One or more bandages (203) are disposed within the bandage receiving cavity. A sensor (901) detects the lid in or transitioning to open position. A sounder (903), operable with the sensor, emits one or more audible sounds (204) when the sensor detects the lid in or transitioning to the radially displaced open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tambra Martin, Brittany Johnson
  • Patent number: 9349289
    Abstract: A system receives data describing a light state of a traffic light and timing status of the traffic light. The light states include a first state indicating the traffic light is displaying a stop signal, and a second state indicating the traffic light is not displaying a stop signal. The timing status describes the time remaining of current state to transition to another state. The system determines, based on the state of the traffic light and the timing status, one of a plurality of messages on the display device. The messages include a first message to shut off an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Kennett Paul Taylor
  • Patent number: 9339427
    Abstract: A container (100) is provided with a container body (101) having a base (103) and a plurality of sidewalls (104,105) extending from the base to define a receiving cavity (200). A first container body part (201) is coupled to the container body to pivot between a closed position and an open position. One or more first aid items (203) are disposed within the receiving cavity. A sensor (207) detects the first container body part in or transitioning to open position. A sounder (208), operable with the sensor, emits one or more audible sounds (209) when the sensor detects the first container body part in or transitioning to the radially displaced open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc
    Inventors: Tambra Martin, Brittany Johnson
  • Patent number: 9340119
    Abstract: An indicator apparatus for providing a status indicator to visibly indicate state of charge information of an electric vehicle is disclosed. The indicator apparatus may be an indicator plate including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an indicator positioned between the first and second ends. The indicator may provide an indication of a status of a battery of the electric vehicle by illuminating a portion of the indicator plate based on status information of the battery. The indicator apparatus may further comprise a power port coupled to the electric vehicle for receiving power from the electric vehicle to the illuminated portion of the indicator plate. The illuminated portion may be illuminated based on vehicle diagnostic data received from the electric vehicle and may be visible from outside the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Henry Chen, Kord Luehr
  • Patent number: 9330547
    Abstract: A haptic authoring tool is provided that recommends one or more haptic effects provides a haptification model generated by learning a human haptic designer style. The haptic authoring tool receives an input comprising at least one of audio and video and a plurality of events. The haptic authoring tool then recommends a type of haptic effect to be associated with a corresponding event from the input based on the learned haptification model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Jamal Saboune, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9318013
    Abstract: A vibrating pulse monitored alarm bracelet consists of control panel/display/capacitive touchscreen, a flash memory to collect and communicate data, two rechargeable batteries which serve as the power source for the device, sensors to collect pulse rate data, vibrating pads to provide silent, electric pulse stimuli, and a neoprene band to secure the device to its wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Tedi Zohar
    Inventor: Tedi Zohar
  • Patent number: 9308861
    Abstract: A dash switch module includes an operator interface device, a haptic feedback device associated with the operator interface device, and a visual feedback device associated with the operator interface device. The haptic feedback device provides a first haptic feedback if an operator's intended action is achieved via the operator interface device. The visual feedback device provides a first visual feedback if the operator's intended action is achieved via the operator interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Basiri, David J. Taneyhill
  • Patent number: 9311452
    Abstract: A medication reminder and compliance system including a pill box, a pill box and electronic device; or a pill box, electronic device and remote server. The pill box includes several detachable dosettes, each divided into several chambers having a door. A two-color LED is disposed beneath each chamber and is activated when a specific reminder time is reached. The LED initially illuminates the associated chamber with a green light but changes to a flashing red light if the door is not opened within a preset time. A switch engaged with the door deactivates the LED when the door is opened. The electronic device communicates with the pill box and alerts the patient when it is time to take medication. A remote server which communicates with both the pill box and electronic device can be programmed to control the reminder schedule and monitor the patient's compliance with a prescribed medication regimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Next Paradigm Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Dickie, Walter Prokopchuk
  • Patent number: 9302609
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method of using sequential logic and vehicle sensors to produce a notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Farah, Michael R. Colville
  • Patent number: 9305452
    Abstract: A battery protection system applicable to an electronic device includes a battery, a control module, a message generating module and an input interface. The control module is electrically connected to the battery for detecting if the battery is in an abnormal state. The message generating module is electrically connected to the control module for generating a battery-error warning message when the control module detects that the battery is in the abnormal state. The input interface is electrically connected to the control module for transmitting a user command to the control module after the battery-error warning message is generated, thereby enabling the control module to release the abnormal state of the battery according to the user command. A battery protection method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Sheng Kung, Wei-Ting Yen, Pi-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 9302587
    Abstract: An instrumentation gauge for a vehicle includes a single piece light guide divided into multiple sections by an opaque light guide insert. The single piece light guide includes at least one telltale graphic printed on a surface of the light guide in each of the light guide sections. When light is communicated into a given section of the light guide, the light scatters on the telltale graphic causing the graphic to be illuminated and distinguishable from a same or similar colored background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Birman, Daniel Pasquale Tollis
  • Patent number: 9305323
    Abstract: A communication system (200) comprises a radio communication device (100) comprising a controller (102) having law enforcement information (110) stored therein and a data acquisition device (108) for capturing area conditions surrounding a law enforcement vehicle or law enforcement personnel. The controller (102) detects violations of the law enforcement information based on variety of detection devices, such as video analytics. In response to a detection of a law violation by an offending vehicle, a transmitter (104) within communication device 100 generates an alert to similarly formed secondary devices (220) mounted and/or worn within the network. The system (200) provides an automated response through devices (220) by gathering additional data pertaining to the offending vehicle to detect for additional violations of the law, even across state lines. The system (200) may further facilitate apprehension of an offending vehicle through automated roadblocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott M Alazraki, Alejandro G Blanco, Patrick D Koskan
  • Patent number: 9294873
    Abstract: The location of an electronic device can be tracked and updated in order to provide a user of the device accurate directions from the user's current location to a target location, for various types of environments. Upon detecting a trigger (e.g., detecting a QR code or detecting an access point signal), an example device can switch from using a first type of positioning element (e.g., GPS) to a second type of positioning element (e.g., using accelerometers, QR codes, etc.) in determining the user's current location. By using the appropriate type of positioning element for each environment, the device may determine the user's current location more accurately. The device may provide an overlay (e.g., arrows) for displaying the directions over images captured from the user's surroundings to provide a more realistic and intuitive experience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. A. MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9290361
    Abstract: A lifting device sensor unit comprises a housing, a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and a wireless transceiver. The housing is configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. The first GNSS receiver is coupled with the housing and configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. The wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and configured for wirelessly providing information including the sensor unit position to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kurtis L. Maynard, John F. Cameron
  • Patent number: 9293036
    Abstract: Techniques are described for providing remote device (e.g., thermostat, lighting, appliance, etc.) control and/or energy monitoring. A system monitors sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties and status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties. The system analyzes the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to a set of one or more rules and performs an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Scott Trundle, Alison Jane Slavin, Jean-Paul Martin, David James Hutz
  • Patent number: 9293050
    Abstract: An alerting system and method for producing tactical views of datalink messages is provided. The system comprises a datalink application processor configured to receive and decode an uplink datalink message. The datalink application processor includes a datalink message manager. The system also includes a control processor in operative communication with the datalink application processor and configured to communicate with the datalink message manager. A display unit is in operative communication with the control processor and is configured to show the uplink datalink message. The control processor is configured receive message data from the datalink message manager and output the message data to the display unit to generate an annunciation of the datalink message. The datalink message manager is configured to output display data for generating the datalink message in full based on a single forward field of view interaction by a user with the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Victoria Judy
  • Patent number: 9293046
    Abstract: A travel control device includes a side obstacle detection unit, a rearward movement preparation detection unit, a warning unit, and a suppression unit. The side obstacle detection unit divides a range from a lateral side to a rear side of a vehicle into plural detection angle areas, and detects, for each of the plural detection angle areas, an obstacle entering the detection angle area and a distance to the obstacle. The warning unit provides warning about the obstacle. The suppression unit suppresses the warning by the warning unit, if the rearward movement preparation detection unit detects the vehicle preparing to move rearward and the detection angle area in which the obstacle is detected shifts from the rear side to the lateral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Valeo Radar Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugano, Toshimichi Gokan, Boris Marie
  • Patent number: 9283819
    Abstract: A vehicle tire pressure indicator and tire illumination assembly is provided. The assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects air inflation pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. In addition, the light source may be illuminated to provide puddle lamp and area lighting and turn signal indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Ali Ammar
  • Patent number: 9283888
    Abstract: A status display for the state of an operationally-relevant component (1) of a motor vehicle, in which an illuminating structure (4) supplied by at least two light sources (5, 6) is arranged in a position of the vehicle which is visible from the outside and a control circuit (3) which is associated with the light sources is designed to control the light sources in accordance with a state signal (sz) representing the state of the operationally-relevant component (1), such that the luminance and/or the color indicates, along the illuminating structure and in a scaled manner, the state of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ZIZALA LICHTSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Reinprecht
  • Patent number: 9286790
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility that is configured for occupation by facility occupants and that includes a fire alarm. The fire alarm can include a fire alarm actuator and a fire alarm communicator configured to produce a fire alarm communication for communicating actuation of the fire alarm actuator. The lockdown apparatus can include a manually operated lockdown actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated, the manually operated actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: EMERGENCY ALERT SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Lyman, Kevin G. Cherven