Patents Examined by Julie Lieu
  • Patent number: 9965940
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body controller having a plurality of sensors that detect a state of a driver door and a rear passenger door and detect an ignition state of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a processor that activates an alert flag in response to receiving a first signal from the body controller indicating an ignition of the vehicle has been started and receiving a second signal from the body controller indicating the rear passenger door of the vehicle has been closed within an activation threshold time. The processor determines that the vehicle has made a temporary stop and maintains the activated alert flag upon detecting that the vehicle has been started in response to determining that the vehicle has made the temporary stop. The processor generates a notification in response to detecting that the vehicle has been parked a second time. The notification may include a camera feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Thaddaeus Voss, Stuart Masakazu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9964334
    Abstract: A method of determining presence of a flame in a furnace of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method comprises determining, using a controller, whether a processor signal (G) is active, responsive to a determination that the processor signal (G) is active, determining, using the controller prior to assertion of a flame-test input control signal, an output state of a first comparator, responsive to a determination that the output state of the first comparator is high, determining, using the controller prior to assertion of the flame-test input control signal, an output state of a second comparator, and responsive to a determination that the output state of the second comparator is low, transmitting, using the controller, a notification that a flame is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Engler
  • Patent number: 9965657
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method to track location, the apparatus including: a substantially planar disposable housing comprising an electronics compartment; a secondary technology sensor disposed along a periphery of the disposable housing; an electronics module disposed within the electronics compartment, the electronics module comprising: a processor coupled to a memory; an RF transceiver coupled to an RF antenna and to the processor; a secondary technology transceiver coupled to the processor; and a battery coupled to the apparatus, wherein the battery is not field-replaceable. The apparatus may further include a marking to indicate a predetermined period of time that the apparatus is operable. Embodiments further include an unattended smart container to autonomously collect a plurality of the apparatus and to report status to a central monitor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CENTRAK, INC.
    Inventors: Israel Amir, Ari Naim
  • Patent number: 9963868
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting pending failure of a septic tank drain field in order to provide remediation to reduce or eliminate the sludge buildup prior to total failure and extend the life of the drain field comprising of a sensor, alarm system. Specific action that can be taken to remediate a drain field include adding natural or engineered bacteria and/or other environmentally friendly additives that will attack the sludge and clear the way for the effluent water to drain and help to maintain a properly operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Mircea Gutu
  • Patent number: 9959717
    Abstract: A network system in a building complex linking different locations together and facilitating information and data exchange and access, includes ‘N’ number of autonomous nodes for receiving, processing, and storing sensory data collected by one or more sensors relating to an environment in ‘N’ number of regions within the building complex. The nodes are configured to communicate and share sensory data among the ‘N’ number of nodes and to generate a dynamic virtual map of the building complex environment that is accessible by users having access to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Networked Emergency Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Thornton, Mark Cohen
  • Patent number: 9959740
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic device that provides a reminder of a task is provided. The controlling method includes receiving an input of a content of a reminder target task, designating a related application that is linked with the reminder target task, and generating and storing the reminder target task of which the content is to be displayed using a predetermined event as a trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Joon Won
  • Patent number: 9955423
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring environmental conditions in a wireless sensor system. A threshold value may be determined. An environmental condition sensor unit may measure, over a defined period of time, an environmental condition level. The measured environmental condition level may be compared to the determined threshold value. It may be determined whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value for the defined period of time. At least in part based on the determination of whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time, information indicative of the measured environmental condition level may be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence Kates
  • Patent number: 9940804
    Abstract: The invention integrates hardware and software for sensing, communications, data storage and control into a protection module that is sufficiently small and inexpensive to be attached directly to individual objects, such as musical instruments, and the inventory of stores and museums. Sensors monitor environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, and accelerometers alert owners to unwanted motion, such as theft or misuse. Sensed data is stored locally and transmitted wirelessly to nonproprietary data receivers, such as smart phones or tablets that generate alerts. In some embodiments the data is forwarded to cloud servers for storage and analysis. Bluetooth communication between the attached module and the data receiver allows large spaces, such as stores and showrooms containing many attached modules to be protected. In some embodiments accelerometers enable finger-tap-controlled recording of musical performance and tuning of the instrument relative to tonal frequencies stored in the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Bean, Michael Dominick Audi, James Michael Gordon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9934666
    Abstract: A security system according to an embodiment of the invention includes motion sensor units for positioning at desired locations of a building structure. Each motion sensor unit includes a motion sensor adapted for detecting motion external to the building structure. The system can include a mobile alarm display unit operatively connected to the motion sensor units. The mobile alarm display unit can include a plurality of alarm indicators corresponding to the motion sensor units. Each alarm indicator can be operatively linked to a particular one of the motion sensor units, and detection of motion by the particular motion sensor unit activates the corresponding alarm indicator linked to the particular motion sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Nicole R. Haines
  • Patent number: 9925918
    Abstract: An on-vehicle apparatus according to an embodiment includes a communication unit that communicates with another on-vehicle apparatus, and a controller that is communicatively coupled to the other on-vehicle apparatus through the communication unit and performs an operation mode in which the controller controls a control target when a supply voltage value is equal to or larger than a first threshold. The controller is able to communicate with the other on-vehicle apparatus through the communication unit when the supply voltage value is equal to or larger than a second threshold which is smaller than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO TEN LIMITED, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kajimoto, Takanori Fujiwara, Xin Sun, Shimpei Moriyama, Tomohiko Torii, Kazuo Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 9925873
    Abstract: When a driving support electronic control unit (DSECU) determines that a driver of a vehicle is in an abnormal state where the driver loses an ability to drive the vehicle, the DSECU starts driving control under the abnormal state to decelerate the vehicle until the vehicle stops and to sound a horn. In this case, the DSECU measures an elapsed time since the horn starts sounding with a horn timer th, and sets a sounding pattern corresponding to the elapsed time measured. This sounding pattern is set in such a manner that a ratio of a sounding time of the horn per unit time decreases as the elapsed time since the horn starts sounding become longer. Thereby, it becomes possible to properly notify that the driver is in the abnormal state using the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Takano
  • Patent number: 9925920
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes at least one sensor that can detect a first target vehicle in a first blind spot and a second target vehicle in a second blind spot. The first blind spot is associated with an adjacent lane relative to a host vehicle and the second blind spot is associated with an extended lane relative to the host vehicle. A processor can generate a first alert signal when the first target vehicle is detected and a second alert signal when the second target vehicle is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Lei, Allen R. Murray, Tuan Anh Be, David Joseph Orris
  • Patent number: 9922569
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a communication channel and displaying information. A signal is received via the communication channel and signal information is extracted from the signal. The signal information is monitored for a predetermined indicator. Selected information is extracted from the signal information when the predetermined indicator is detected in the signal information and then displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jan Bilek, Ivan Lacko, Jiri Vasek
  • Patent number: 9922520
    Abstract: A new and improved electronic monitoring home units and associated installation methods. The present disclosure provides for an electronic monitoring home unit capable of automated confirmation of location and method of automated confirmation of location when a home unit has been installed. The present disclosure provides for a home unit capable of intelligent inclusion zone setting for a home unit and a method of such inclusion zone setting. The present disclosure also provides for a streamlined installation method with automated communication between a home unit and central monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ATTENTI ELECTRONIC MONITORING LTD.
    Inventors: Omer Shechter, David Shuva, Meir Zygman, Ido Rosenfeld
  • Patent number: 9916745
    Abstract: A container fraud detection system and method using one or more wireless communication tags attached to a container in specific ways to ensure the authenticity of the contents. The tag is affixed to the container in such a way that the tag is destroyed upon opening of the container, thereby indicating fraud upon scanning. The tag may be affixed to the container by an adhesive strip, polymer film or wax composition. The tag may be affixed to an adhesive strip prior to application of the strip to a container. Two tags on the container or strip may be cryptographically linked. The tag information is accessible through a scanning device which communicates with a database that stores information about the container and analyzes the probability of fraud with an algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Steven M. Glamuzina, Jr., Jeffrey C. Murphy
  • Patent number: 9911312
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for monitoring hygiene compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wildman, Dennis J. Gallant, Phillip J. Hausman
  • Patent number: 9902475
    Abstract: A remote controlled lighted mooring beacon is adapted to be secured to a mooring site. The beacon may include various features, such as a central shaft, a ballast at the base of the shaft containing at least one power source, a float, an electronics package having a receiver that responds to a wireless code for generating an activation signal, and a 360 degree viewable high intensity light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Susan Waldrop
  • Patent number: 9892613
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining alertness of an driver of a motor vehicle periodically generates an audible alert signal to which the driver responds by pressing a button on the vehicle's steering wheel. The response time of the driver to the signal is monitored and if an increase is detected, the repetition rate of the alert signal is increased. The repetition rate may be further modified by taking into account vehicle driving conditions which may indicate a risk of boredom in the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Birnie, Derek Beattie, Robert Moran
  • Patent number: 9886858
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle safety system and method including a detection system, an emergency control unit and one or more safety devices. The detection system detects a target vehicle positioned longitudinally and laterally displaced relative the detection system, and defines a target vehicle rectangle that at least partly encloses the target vehicle, and constitutes an approximation of the target vehicle. The target vehicle rectangle forms a boundary (k) positioned along a second bearing having a second azimuth angle (??1+??2) with reference to a first reference line. The target vehicle rectangle forms a first corner (j) closest to the detection system and positioned along a first bearing having a first azimuth angle (??1) with reference to the first reference line. The detection system calculates a yaw movement (?A) of the target vehicle using the first and second azimuth angles (??1, ??1+??2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Shane Murray, Ulf Nordqvist
  • Patent number: 9880269
    Abstract: The dimensions of an object are measured as it is transported by a forklift within an area of measurement. A first scanner is on a first side of the area of measurement; a second scanner is on an opposite second side and across the first scanner. The first and second scanners provide a dual-head scanner arrangement to capture dimensions of the object. A third scanner is on the first side of the area of measurement, parallel to the first scanner. The first and third scanners are configured to capture speed and direction of the object. Each scanner has a processor to operate it. The first and second scanners are synchronized, and operation of the first and third scanners is correlated. Placement of the first and second scanners establishes a width of the area of measurement and the first and third scanners establish a length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Einar Sorensen, Espen Rutger, Kjell Krakenes, Eivind Kvedalen