Patents Examined by Paul Obiniyi
  • Patent number: 9259980
    Abstract: A number of frames in a burst is adjusted such that a first optimal number of first frames from a first manufacturer are included in the burst, the first optimal number of frames chosen to enable the detection of the burst by first receivers that are tuned to receive the first frames from the first manufacturer. The number of frames in the burst is adjusted such that a second optimal number of second frames from a second manufacturer are included in the burst, the second optimal number of frames chosen to enable detection of the burst by second receivers that are tuned to receive the second frames from the second manufacturer. The number of frames in the burst maintains a configuration compliant with government regulations regarding one or more of a burst length and a power emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Deniau, Brian J Farrell
  • Patent number: 9253891
    Abstract: A sensor pad that is adapted to be positioned on a patient's bed or chair as part of a monitoring system that provides a signal to a caregiver when the patient rises from the bed or chair also indicates when the pad is near failure. The sensor pad includes specialized contact plate patterning that creates zones on the sensor pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Rondish Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Steven Alfred Williams
  • Patent number: 9235968
    Abstract: A wearable computing device comprises one or more one eye pieces each of which further comprises a flexible frame surrounding a display screen and tactile elements arranged on the perimeter of the display screen. The tactile elements provide tactile feedback to the user that is synchronous with the display on the display screen. A detection system is also included in the flexible frame to monitor the movements of a wearer's eyes and the eye sockets and to execute various tasks in response to the detected movements. A visual cortex thought detector also coupled to the wearable computing device obtains information regarding the wearer's thoughts and manipulates a display on the display screen based on the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: OTOY, INC.
    Inventor: Julian Michael Urbach
  • Patent number: 9235178
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that enables to prolong lives of device parts of which lives are limited by preventing unnecessary returns from the power saving mode, and reduce unnecessary power consumption. A first living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus to input a trigger. A second living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus for other purposes. A switching unit switches a mode from a first electric power mode to a second electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit does not detect the living body, and maintains the first electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit detects the living body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Minoru Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9235989
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method for adjusting a signal control plan for a traffic signal at an intersection based on local environmental conditions is provided. The method includes operating the traffic signal based on a standard signal control plan, receiving an indication of an adverse environmental condition, and determining if the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition. Based on determining that the standard signal control plan should be adjusted based on the indication of the adverse environmental condition, the method includes creating a modified signal control plan based on the adverse environmental condition and the standard signal control plan and operating the traffic signal based on the modified signal control plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Collum, Benjamin Collar
  • Patent number: 9230427
    Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus for starting an operation according to an electric wave received from a portable terminal is provided. The apparatus includes a wireless communication module for transmitting data to the portable terminal, an RFID tag for turning-on a switch using the electric wave received from the portable terminal, the switch supplying power of a battery to a sensor, the wireless communication module and a control unit when the switch is turned-on, and for cutting-off the power supply of the battery to the sensor, the wireless communication module and the control unit when the switch is turned-off, and the control unit for driving the sensor when the power from the battery is supplied to the control unit, for controlling the wireless communication module to transmit a physical amount from the sensor to the portable terminal and for turning off the switch when the control unit receives the physical amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 9228713
    Abstract: The present application relates to a light beacon, light beacon assembly, and methods of its construction. In one aspect, a light beacon assembly includes a housing including a base and a lens cooperating to enclose an interior volume, the lens having a generally cylindrical shape. The assembly also includes a plurality of circuit boards positioned within the interior volume, where each of the plurality of circuit boards having a conductive tab extending from a first side, a conductive tab receiver near a second side, and a light emitting diode mounted thereon. The plurality of circuit boards are each positioned within the interior volume and extend perpendicularly from the base such that the tab of each circuit board is received at the tab receiver of an adjacent circuit board. The plurality of circuit boards are interconnected to form a structure having light emitting diodes oriented outwardly toward the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Skertich, Jr., Duane P. Belitz, Robert R. March, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9226698
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for authentication and identification of a user by use of an electroencephalographic (EEG) signal. For example, a method for authenticating a user includes the following steps. At least one electroencephalographic response is obtained from a user in accordance with perceptory stimuli presented to the user. The user is authenticated based on the obtained electroencephalographic response. The authenticating step may be based on detection of an event-related potential in the obtained electroencephalographic response. The event-related potential may be a P300 event-related potential. The method may also include the step of enrolling the user prior to authenticating the user. The enrolling step may include a supervised enrollment procedure or an unsupervised enrollment procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jiri Navratil, Bhuvana Ramabhadran
  • Patent number: 9230386
    Abstract: A product providing apparatus and display apparatus, and a method for providing a GUI using the same are provided. The product providing apparatus includes a display unit, a collecting unit and a control unit which controls an image based on user characteristic information to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ui-chol Roh, Yun-suk Nam, Jae-ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9210357
    Abstract: A remote control for a set-top box is configured to communicate with the set-top box using first and second wavelengths. In one embodiment, the remote control automatically performs Bluetooth pairing with the set-top box when the remote control is in proximity to the set-top box and the user presses a button on the remote, such as a “Power” button or other designated button. The remote control may wirelessly transmit a unique ID to the set-top box for the pairing process using the first wavelength, such as infrared. When paired, the set-top box may accept commands from the remote control transmitted using the second wavelengths, e.g., Bluetooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ke Dong, Yut Loy Chan, Sherry Qianhong Moore
  • Patent number: 9201156
    Abstract: A system, method and device for interrogating a downhole environment in a borehole beneath a surface includes a source of electromagnetic energy, operable to transmit an electromagnetic signal in the borehole, a sensor module, including a passive resonating circuit including a crystal oscillator having a resonant frequency that varies with changes in the condition in the downhole environment to reflect the electromagnetic signal and to modulate the electromagnetic signal in response to a condition in the downhole environment in the borehole and a detector positionable to receive the reflected modulated electromagnetic signal. Embodiments include a power monitor and circuitry configured and arranged to measure an input frequency at a time when an inflection in the applied power is observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: Mitchell Carl Smithson
  • Patent number: 9197984
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to a radio frequency identification device (RFID) with wide-area connectivity are provided. In an example, a real-time location (RTL) monitoring device is provided. The RTL monitoring device includes a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag and an RFID interrogator configured to interrogate the first RFID tag and a second RFID tag. A long-range wireless transceiver is coupled to the RFID interrogator, and configured to communicate RFID data. The first RFID tag, the RFID interrogator, and the long-range wireless transceiver can be collocated in an enclosure separate from the second RFID tag. The RTL monitoring device is configured to aggregate a plurality of responses from the first and second RFID tags, and to communicate the aggregated RFID data with a second device, such as a satellite, a base station, and/or an eNodeB device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Kaufman, Julian Durand, Daniel Obodovski, Michael E. Akiki
  • Patent number: 9189903
    Abstract: The invention relates to providing extended user assistance to the user of a portable electronic device. In particular, the invention relates to providing using assistance for a user of a portable electronic device, comprising a display and a Near Field Communication (NFC) circuit. The method comprises swiping the portable electronic device over an NFC tag comprising user assistance data, accessing user assistance information based on the user assistance data and displaying the user assistance information on the display. The application also relates to a method for providing context-based user assistance information and to a corresponding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Dragan Dimovski, Ann Ekstrom, Emma Overgaard
  • Patent number: 9183719
    Abstract: A human safety system includes a circuit including a microcontroller and at least one power source; a probe in communication with the circuit; at least one use detector in communication with the circuit; and at least one alert indicator in communication with the circuit. A method of using a human safety device, the method includes initiating operation of the human safety device; arranging the human safety device in communication with skin; and monitoring the human safety device for alert indicators. A method of monitoring a user includes waking from sleep state; sensing at least one condition of the user; determining if the sensed condition is in a human condition; continuously monitoring the condition of the user; and, returning to sleep state when the user condition is outside of the human condition for an amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Safetyminded Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Mack Gouge, Kenneth Armstrong, Terrance Ransbury, Robert Smith, Darrel Self
  • Patent number: 9177282
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for contextually aware monitoring of a supply chain are disclosed. In some implementations, contextually aware monitoring can include monitoring of the supply chain tradelane with tracking devices including sensors for determining location, velocity, heading, vibration, acceleration (e.g., 3D acceleration), or any other sensor that can monitor the environment of the shipping container to provide contextual awareness. The contextual awareness can be enabled by geofencing and recursive algorithms, which allow dynamic modification of the tracking device behavior. Dynamic modification can reduce performance to save power (e.g., save battery usage) and lower costs. Dynamic modification can increase performance where it matters in the supply chain for improved reporting accuracy or frequency or recognition of supply chain events. Dynamic modification can adapt performance such as wireless communications to the region or location of the tracking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Deal Magic Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Dirk Stevens, Nicholas James Quinn, Nicholas D. Cova
  • Patent number: 9178509
    Abstract: A keyboard or keyboard key that has a force sensor that measures the force imparted to the key when a user presses the key or rests a finger on a key. Key embodiments may also include an actuator that excites the in order to provide feedback to the user in accordance with various feedback methods disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 9171448
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a structure signal strength for a signal generated by a tag on a structure and receiving a product signal strength for a signal generated by a tag on a product. An indication that the product is positioned near the structure based on the received structure signal strength and the received product signal strength is then stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Foster
  • Patent number: 9169670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to security devices used to protect merchandise or other objects, including security devices having one or more adjustable cables used to wrap around objects of various shapes and sizes, such that the security devices are secured to the objects. The present invention also relates to a removable module that can enable a disposable, one-alarm passive security device to provide three-alarm functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Shute, Adam Mark Will
  • Patent number: 9167432
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing security features of a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device comprises a first security module configured to implement a first security operation and a second security module configured to implement a second security operation. The method includes: detecting a first security event; implementing a first security operation by the first security module; triggering a second security event; and implementing a second security operation by the second security module. The first security operation includes triggering the second security event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Christopher James Ould
  • Patent number: 9167408
    Abstract: Systems for identifying and categorizing distributed devices, e.g., lighting fixtures and thermostats, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a user (200) sends a low power discovery message to devices (201) using a portable programming tool (100). The devices (201) within range respond with identification information. The portable programming tool (100) organizes the responses by proximity and sends a “flash” message to the device with the closest perceived proximity. That device responds with a visual or audible signal (202), allowing the user (200) to determine whether that device is the one intended for selection. If so, the user initiates a store routine in which identification information, including category information, is stored in one or more locations, such as, the selected device (201), the portable programming tool (100), and/or a central or local controller (1100). The identification and categorization can, for example, be used to automate load shedding and to reduce energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Pyramid Meriden Inc.
    Inventor: George Bucci