Patents Examined by Phung T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7098808
    Abstract: A subsystem of an avionics system is operated in a first mode for receiving software via a port; and in a second mode in accordance with a circuit that includes a terminator coupled to the port. By using the terminator to convey information regarding a desired configuration for operation in the second mode, communication and wiring is avoided between subsystems of the avionics system for conveying such information. In one implementation, operation in the second mode includes performing a collision avoidance function (e.g., providing a TCAS advisory). Configuration information in accordance with the circuit may specify an arrangement of shared antennas between multiple transponders and/or mode changes related to using an antenna for a collision avoidance function in a hijack mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Cyro Allen Stone, Douglas W. Guetter, Desi D. Stelling
  • Patent number: 7098774
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling activation of a warning system includes a sensor module locally coupled to the warning system for sensing and controlling a flashing light of the warning system, a transceiver responsive to a microcontroller, and a power line interface for interfacing between the transceiver and the power line servicing the warning system. The sensor module includes a sensor arranged for sensing the flashing light, the microcontroller coupled to the sensor, and a power supply for providing power to the sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Davenport, Ralph Hoctor, William Hatfield, Kuna Kishore, Mukesh Soni, Dennis Cusano
  • Patent number: 7095324
    Abstract: A tamper evident smart label with an RFID or RF transponder. Use of tamper evident label materials in the layered construction of the smart label prevents removal, transferal, replacement and or alteration of the smart label without noticeable evidence of tampering. Propagation cuts in the RF Transponder substrate, adhesive that separates into visible patterns, holograms and or microprinting may be used to increase label tampering visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corp
    Inventors: Kevin Girard Conwell, Matt Adams
  • Patent number: 7091861
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a radio-frequency (RF) identification tag configured to transmit at least one dynamic electronic product code (EPC) associated with at least one item, the at least one dynamic EPC configured to include at least one portion that is variable based at least in part on at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Sensitech Inc.
    Inventors: Rupert A. Schmidtberg, Eric B. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7091859
    Abstract: Containers for holding goods are provided with a relay conductive structure for relaying RFID tags signals from one side of the container to another. The conductive structure includes a first antenna on the first side of the container, a second antenna on a second side of the container and a transmission line connecting the antennas. When the containers are arranged in a stack, the relay of RFID signals past each row of containers enables the interrogation toward the rear of the stack without disassembling the stack of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Duron, Raj Bridgelall, Avi Nudelman, Hal Charych
  • Patent number: 7088236
    Abstract: A system and method for surveillance of a physical environment. May utilise already installed equipment, such as WLAN for surveillance purposes. This makes the system cost effective to implement. Transmits a first and a second signal. The signals are received by receivers, and the received signals are compared in order to detect a difference in the signals, the difference being caused by a physical change present in the signal path between transmitter(s) and receiver(s). Does not require high spectral purity of the transmitted signals or heavy computations in order to establish that a change has occurred. Suitable for intruder alarm purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: IT University of Copenhagen
    Inventor: John Erik Aasted Sørensen
  • Patent number: 7084761
    Abstract: There is provided a device in which surroundings of a building can be monitored using a sensor; when detecting an intruder, an object can be detected even in the case of bad weather; and a predetermined area can be monitored using as few sensors as possible. The device includes a security system which emits a radio wave from a building to a predetermined area outside the building to detect an object, and on the basis of output of the object detecting unit, a judgment is made as to whether or not the object will intrude into the predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Hiroshi Kuroda, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Sato, Terumi Nakazawa, Kenichi Mitzuishi, Kazuaki Takano, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Hiroshi Kondoh, Mikito Tsubota
  • Patent number: 7084741
    Abstract: A method for communicating between a first station and a second station over a wire pair, in which the first station sends an alternating power signal over the wire pair, the alternating power signal comprising a plurality of communication symbols, the second station receiving the alternating power signal and determining therefrom the communication symbols, the second station drawing current from the alternating power signal in a sequence corresponding to at least one further communication symbol, and the first station determining the current drawn in the alternating power signal to recover the further communication symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Signal Data Systems PTY, Ltd.
    Inventor: Allan P. Plummer
  • Patent number: 7081813
    Abstract: A home or other building security system is interfaced with a vehicle control system, such as for an automobile. The vehicle control system includes a transceiver for receiving commands from the home security system for performing certain actions, such as arming or disarming an alarm system, unlocking or locking doors, opening or closing windows, and starting or stopping the engine. The vehicle control system also transmits status information regarding the vehicle to the home security system. The vehicle can be protected as a zone or partition of the home security system. Furthermore, a remote vehicle monitoring apparatus may be provided that triggers an alarm or annunciation based on its control mode when a change of status signal is received from the vehicle. The control mode is optionally tied to the status of a home security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Winick, Michael T. Spoltore, Robert J. Orlando, Robert S. Adonailo, Scott Simon
  • Patent number: 7081812
    Abstract: A simple and easily-installed system for vehicles equipped with an extensible pole, mast, boom, or other structure, providing an audible alarm when the operator attempts to drive away without first completely retracting the pole, mast, boom, or other extensible structure. The system includes a sensor for sensing a first position and a second position of a vehicle's gearshift lever, and a control module. The control module receives an electrical signal from an extensible structure when the extensible structure is fully or partially deployed and communicates the electrical signal to an audible alarm if the sensor senses that the vehicle's gearshift lever has been moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: Charles M. Hastings, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7075426
    Abstract: A wake-up circuit and associated method for use in an alarm system hidden in a currency resembling security pack. The alarm system includes an alarm device and an electronic alarm activation circuit that actuates the alarm device upon receipt of an alarm actuation signal. The wake up circuit includes a flexure sensor used to detect flexure of the security pack and upon sensing such flexure to switch the electronic alarm activation circuit from a first, dormant state to a second, active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: 3SI Security Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Johnson, Mark Oudshoorn, Joel Bartholf
  • Patent number: 7075437
    Abstract: An RFID relay device for an RFID transponder and methods are provided for relaying an RFID signal. The RFID relay device comprises at least two antenna and a transmission line coupling the at least two antenna. In addition to the two antenna and the transmission line, the RFID relay device comprises an impedance adjusting circuit coupled to the transmission line and configured for coupling to the RFID transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Bridgelall, Mark Duron, Richard T. Knadle, Jr., Hal Charych, Avi Nudelman
  • Patent number: 7075459
    Abstract: A vehicle navigation system includes a vehicle displacement sensor comprising a wireless transmitter generating a signal indicating rotational displacement of a vehicle component. A complementary wireless transmitter receives the signal from the transmitter. A computer calculates vehicle speed or displacement based upon the rotational speed or displacement of the vehicle component. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter is secured to a wheel of the vehicle and generates an RF signal upon each revolution of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Magellan DIS, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Begin, Larry Spencer
  • Patent number: 7068178
    Abstract: A seating system and a shared sensor is described and shown. The seating system includes a seat section and a back section, adjustable bolsters coupled to the seat section and the back section, and a control unit coupled to the adjustable bolster. The shared sensor is coupled to the control unit of the seating system and to another system in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Pahngroc Oh
  • Patent number: 7068157
    Abstract: A tire information detecting system includes a plurality of tire information output units that sense and output tire information corresponding to respective tires at predetermined intervals and a tire information detecting unit that detects tire conditions based on the tire information transmitted from the tire information output units while a vehicle is being driven. Every time the tire information detecting unit normally completes processing of one of the tire information signals, the tire information detecting unit changes priority in the tire information so as to assign the lowest priority to the processed tire information signal. When the plurality of tire information output units transmit a plurality of the tire information signals while the tire information detecting unit is ready for reception, the tire information detecting unit processes one of the tire information signals having a higher priority and discards processes of the other tire information signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Ikeda, Naobumi Ota
  • Patent number: 7068187
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for assisting the pilot of an aircraft in making a go-around decision. Various aircraft parameters are monitored during the approach to land and a risk level assessed. When the risk level exceeds a specified threshold, an alert is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Ishihara, Scott Gremmert, Steven C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7068152
    Abstract: The present invention is a remote de-activation system for use with vehicles or other motorized equipment consisting of a remote portable RF signal generation unit which communicates with an RF receiver mounted on the vehicle to be disabled. The receiver unit features circuit interruption switching or relays and is transposed within the ignition circuit of the vehicle or equipment to be disabled. The system is further characterized as including independent power sources for the RF transmitter, receiver and alarm systems such as to prevent malfunction of the system through compromising the power sources. Alternative embodiments include the utilization of a centralized battery charger and key locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Hager
  • Patent number: 7064656
    Abstract: Disclosed is a controller to prevent access or utilization by a vehicle operator to communications devices installed on the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion thereby reducing distractions of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventors: Brian E. Belcher, Larry L. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7064661
    Abstract: A control and detection system for control of an object connected to the system, and for detection of object location in case of disappearance, theft or shifting of object, whereby the system has communication from each object at least to one data receiving device (3), (6) and from there data transmission (7) to the control unit. The system comprises an active short range transmitter that can be activated for function, furnished with a code of its own and placed in an object in the control area, a safety module monitoring the presence of the transmitter placed in an object in the area and/or detects a sender arriving to the area, base station of communication with connection to the control centre and the safety module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventors: Seppo Luode, Keijo Kantoluoto, Kauko Valtonen
  • Patent number: 7061383
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for an automatic check-in using radio-frequency (RF) identification cards are disclosed. Passengers who fly frequently are issued RF identification cards, which may be detected by detectors stationed in the lobby of an airport or at a boarding gate. When a card is detected, a computer checks the identification of the passenger against a passenger list for the flight that is presently boarding. If there is a match, the passenger is automatically checked in, a signal is given, and the passenger proceeds to board the flight. The method, and the RF check-in system, may also be used for other conveyances, such as cruise ships, railroad journeys, bus trips, or other modes of mass transit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: United Air Lines, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry L. Davis, William G. Couper