Patents Examined by Rufus C Point
  • Patent number: 11128936
    Abstract: Described is a transformer end-of-life thermal transmitting indicator (thermal transmitting indicator) that is configured and well suited for monitoring the health of a transformer and communicating the health of the transformer to an end user by way of a cellular transceiver. The thermal transmitting indicator can be configured to alert nearby people of an impending transformer explosion if the transformer fails. The thermal transmitting indicator is also arranged to transmit any problems or impending danger from the transformer to the end user who can then respond by preemptively dealing with the failing transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Mark D. Matlin, Dean Carnell Sanders, Donald Gene Ferguson, Steven Richard Wenande
  • Patent number: 11120657
    Abstract: An integrated lock management and smart device control system comprises lock controllers configured to authenticate lock management system (LMS) credentials and also act as a hub for a collection of smart devices. The system also comprises a guest app that can receive and store an LMS credential or a functional derivative thereof and use the credential to unlock an entrance. The guest app also provides smart device controls. When these are selected, the guest app issues a command to the lock controller or an Internet gateway, backed by the LMS credential. After authenticating the LMS credential, the lock controller or gateway transmits a command to the smart device that is backed by a configurable smart device credential. Guest control of the smart devices is terminated by disabling the LMS credential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Townsteel, Inc.
    Inventors: Sybor Ma, Yongping Du
  • Patent number: 11117547
    Abstract: A roof panel storage system for vehicle is disclosed herein. A storage bag is configured to hold a roof panel of the vehicle. The sensor is coupled to the storage bag and is configured to sense a position of the storage bag. A sound source device is coupled to the storage bag and is configured to issue an auditory alert based on the sensed position of the storage bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Baumbick, Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Annette Lynn Huebner, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman
  • Patent number: 11120076
    Abstract: A first connection state may be entered on a computing device. While the computing device is in the first connection state, actions taken on a playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and not applied to a playback queue associated with a zone. An input may be received via the computing device, indicating a selection of the zone. In response to receiving the input, a second connection state may be entered. Entering the second connection state may comprise establishing a connected state between the computing device and the one or more playback devices. While the connected state is established, one or more actions taken on the playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and transmitted, in a message to the zone over a network. The one or more actions may be one or more corresponding actions applied to the playback queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11113331
    Abstract: A network device is configured to (i) play back a media item indicated by a remote playback queue provided by a cloud-based computing system, (ii) receive an indication that a playback device is available for playback, (iii) display a now playing screen including (a) information identifying the media item, and (b) an icon that indicates that the network device is not in a connected state with any other network device, (iv) receive a first input selecting the icon, (v) in response to the first input, display a list of one or more available network devices including the playback device, (vi) receive a second input selecting the playback device from the list (vii) after receiving the second input, update the list to indicate that the playback device is selected for playback of the remote playback queue, and (viii) transfer playback of the remote playback queue from the network device to the playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11106985
    Abstract: A power device with self-health status prediction function and a self-health status prediction method thereof and a cloud server suitable for a plurality of power devices are provided. The power device is configured to obtain a health index prediction model and a health prediction index threshold of the power device from the cloud server through a communication module thereof, and is configured to put a plurality of obtained sensing data and basic information of the power device into the health index prediction model to obtain a health prediction index. The power device is also configured to obtain a health status prediction data of the power device according to a comparison result between the health prediction index and the health prediction index threshold, so as to perform a follow-up process. Wherein the health index prediction model is constructed and trained by the cloud server by way of machine learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CYBER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yung-Hsiang Lin, Chia-Min Yeh
  • Patent number: 11100801
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a detection system. The hazard detection system includes a first sensor configured to detect or measure first sensor data including driver behavior patterns and a second sensor configured to detect second sensor data including driving patterns of one or more other vehicles. The hazard detection system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to obtain the first sensor data and the second sensor data and determine that a hazardous condition is present based on the driver behavior patterns or the driving patterns. The electronic control unit is configured to alert a driver of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles or another entity of the hazardous condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa Pipe, Katsumi Nagata, Ryan Wiesenberg, Gunnar Heinisch, Clinton Williams
  • Patent number: 11087623
    Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for driver speed-tracking error are disclosed herein. One embodiment computes a recommended speed for a vehicle; classifies a driver of the vehicle as a particular type of driver among a plurality of driver types based on measured speed-tracking error, wherein the speed-tracking error is a difference between the recommended speed and an actual speed of the vehicle; predicts the speed-tracking error at a future time increment based on the speed-tracking error at one or more past time increments using a nonlinear autoregressive (NAR) neural network associated with the particular type of driver; computes a compensated recommended speed for the vehicle based on the recommended speed and the predicted speed-tracking error at the future time increment; and communicates the compensated recommended speed to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ziran Wang, Kyungtae Han, Prashant Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11071416
    Abstract: An apparatus, product monitoring system, and a method of measuring an amount of product on a roller are provided. The method includes receiving a first position distance between a position sensor and an exterior edge of the roller. The method also includes comparing the first position distance with a predetermined position distance. The predetermined position distance defines the distance between the position sensor and the exterior edge of the roller at a specific amount of product left on the roller. The method further includes determining the amount of product left on the roller based on the comparison of the first position distance and the predetermined position distance. The method still further includes causing the transmission of a signal relating to the amount of product left on the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Hunter James Hollister
  • Patent number: 11069217
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for detecting an object, such as a person. For example, a sensing system may comprise a sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement may comprise a passive sensor and an active sensor. The active sensor may be placed into a sleep state (e.g., a relatively low powered state) until awakened by the passive sensor. For example, responsive to detecting a presence of an object (e.g., a nurse entering a patient's room), the passive sensor may awaken the active sensor from the sleep state to an active state for detecting motion and/or distance of the object within a detection zone to create object detection data (e.g., an indication of a hygiene opportunity for the nurse). The active sensor may transition from the active state to the sleep state responsive to a detection timeout and/or a determination that the object left the detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson William Wegelin, Bradley Lee Lightner, Mark Adam Bullock
  • Patent number: 11030871
    Abstract: A building monitoring system includes a sensor configured to sense a condition and collect sensor data related to the sensed condition. The building monitoring system also includes a server configured to receive the sensor data. The server is configured to analyze the sensor data to detect an undesirable condition and a threat from the undesirable condition within a structure and automatically issue a notification upon detection of the undesirable condition and the threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: OneEvent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Joseph Wedig, Daniel Ralph Parent, Paul Robert Mullaly
  • Patent number: 11017655
    Abstract: An electronic processor is operatively connected with at least one video camera, or additionally or alternatively a non-camera-based sensor, and at least one annunciator to process real time video acquired by the at least one video camera in real time to perform a hand hygiene compliance enforcement method for encouraging use of a hand sanitation station. The real time video is analyzed to determine an occupancy time interval over which a sanitation zone imaged by the real time video is occupied. Whether a hand sanitation event occurs is determined based on images of a wash station zone extracted from the real time video acquired during the occupancy time interval. The at least one annunciator is controlled to annunciate a hand hygiene compliance status based on the determination of whether a hand sanitation event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: VISUALQ
    Inventors: John Caleb Harman, John M. Abdelsayed
  • Patent number: 11004335
    Abstract: A method for speed prediction may include obtaining current vehicle speeds associated with first vehicles that pass through a target road section in a current time interval. The method may also include determining a current road speed associated with the target road section in the current time interval based on the current vehicle speeds. The method may also include determining a predicted speed difference between the current road speed and a future road speed associated with the target road section in a future time interval based on the current road speed and a trained prediction model, which is based on prior speed differences, wherein the current time interval and the future time interval are separated by a first time period. The method may also include estimating the future road speed based on the predicted speed difference and the current road speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: BEIJING DIDI INFINITY TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hui Qiu, Haibo Li, Menghua Jiang, Yuhao Qin
  • Patent number: 10990613
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a circuitry configured to set a threshold value to define each user group based on position information and retrieve a state of each user detected based on sensing data provided from a user terminal. The circuitry is further configured to integrate the detected states for each user group defined based on the position information to generate integrated state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro Gomi, Takeshi Koga, Akari Hoshi, Manabu Kii, Ryuichi Namba
  • Patent number: 10950130
    Abstract: Among other things, equipment is located at an intersection of a transportation network. The equipment includes an input to receive data from a sensor oriented to monitor ground transportation entities at or near the intersection. A wireless communication device sends to a device of one of the ground transportation entities, a warning about a dangerous situation at or near the intersection, there is a processor and a storage for instructions executable by the processor to perform actions including the following. A machine learning model is stored that can predict behavior of ground transportation entities at or near the intersection at a current time. The machine learning model is based on training data about previous motion and related behavior of ground transportation entities at or near the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Georges Aoude, Amer Abufadel, Karl Jeanbart, Rishabh Choudhary, Ankit Sharma
  • Patent number: 10948562
    Abstract: An RFID system includes multiple antennas and uses amplitude and phase information of the RFID signals received by each antenna to determine the position of RFID tags in the vicinity. More than one antenna can receive the RFID signals during a single read cycle, enabling the RFID system to operate more quickly than a system that energizes antennas separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: FORTISS, LLC.
    Inventors: Forrest S. Seitz, Joshua K. Hoyt, Bartley A. Johnson, Tyler J. Seitz
  • Patent number: 10950110
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing threats at target locations of networked subscriber devices. The system may include a server connected to a network such that the server manages threats at the target locations and at threat locations. Networked subscriber devices alert respective users when the respective target locations coincide with a given threat location. The server notifies the users of respective solutions to threats and respective solution providers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SECURITY SERVICES NORTHWEST, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph N. D'Amico
  • Patent number: 10950125
    Abstract: A method for localization of a vulnerable road user (VRU) includes receiving a received signal strength indication (RSSI) level of a wireless signal of a mobile device carried by the VRU detected by a wireless sensor in an area of interest. The detected RSSI level is compared to RSSI fingerprints stored in a fingerprinting database (DB) so as to identify an RSSI fingerprint having a closest match to the detected RSSI level. The VRU is localized at a position stored in the fingerprinting DB for the identified RSSI fingerprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gurkan Solmaz, Jonathan Fuerst
  • Patent number: 10943104
    Abstract: An improvement is provided for routine traffic stops by making it safer for police officers and drivers. Implementation of smart technology into the industry wide standard use of physical interactions between police officers and drivers, a streamed lined method and process will yield optimal results as a safer method and system in executing such a tactic. Utilizing technology i.e. algorithms and databases, servers, and cloud-based infrastructures with application processing interfaces (api's) communicating in this ecosystem, creating a synergy while transferring specific data; will replace the current process of a routine traffic stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Daniel Thompson
  • Patent number: 10940924
    Abstract: An alert control system includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to: receive a first input of an anchorage instruction or a second input indicating an anchorage state, and perform, in accordance with the first input or the second input, control to reduce a number of kinds of triggers which output an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takayuki Adachi