Patents Examined by Ryan W Sherwin
  • Patent number: 11037418
    Abstract: A distributed occupancy detection system includes plural networked node devices configured to be spatially distributed throughout a structure. Each node device includes an occupancy sensor that senses a presence characteristic indicative of an object being in a monitored area of the structure that is associated with the occupancy sensor. Each node device also includes one or more processors that determine a probability that the object is or was located in the structure based on the presence characteristic sensed by the occupancy sensor of a first node device and based on the presence characteristic sensed by the occupancy sensor of one or more neighboring node devices. The one or more processors determine whether the object is in the structure based on the probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Tamas Varjasi, Gabor Szabo, Sandor Polyak, Balazs Bencze, Gergely Katz
  • Patent number: 11033239
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating alerts based on potential health conflicts are described. The described systems and methods may provide for identifying unstructured text from a physical environment, performing natural language processing on the unstructured text to produce annotated text, comparing the annotated text to patient medical information to find a potential conflict, and generating an alert based on the potential conflict.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bhargav Cheenepalli, Kristin E. McNeil, Stephen Douglas Bowman, David Blake Werts
  • Patent number: 11019412
    Abstract: An intelligent monitor system for monitoring an injection mold or stamping die includes sensors, logic and communication paths for improving usability and reliability during monitoring. In one aspect, a monitor can be configured to not only monitor a production cycle count and/or cycle time of an injection mold or stamping die, but also analyze operations of the injection mold or stamping die to adapt to the system. The monitor can analyze, for example, temperatures, pressures, vibrations, location, and/or flow control, among other things, at various points, with flexibility for adding additional monitoring on the fly, to adapt various functions, such as reporting frequency, communication method, power conservation, and the like. The monitor can utilize multiple radios for communicating with a data center, including but not limited to, via relays and/or gateways, to ensure reliable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Red E Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Samkowiak, James P Stuart, Peter Chan
  • Patent number: 11017647
    Abstract: A method and system for remote monitoring are provided. The system includes a network including a plurality of communication points that provide a path of communication between connected devices, wherein the network is adapted to communicate via internet resources, a video device that is communicatively connected using the network an image/alarm converter that is communicatively connected to the video device using the network, and a proprietary router in the network through which the video device is able to connect to the image/alarm converter using a secure communication tunnel established by the proprietary router over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ron Johan, Gabriel Daher, Daniel Ming On Wu
  • Patent number: 11007932
    Abstract: A driver state warning apparatus provides a safe and effective driving by non-contact haptic stimulus to a driver using an ultrasonic signal when the driver is in a drowsy or careless state. The driver state warning apparatus includes: a detector to obtain state information of a driver; a haptic stimulator to generate an ultrasonic beam and transmit the generated ultrasonic beam; and a controller to determine whether a state of the driver corresponds to a predetermined warning target state based on the obtained state information of the driver and provide a non-contact haptic stimulus by transmitting the ultrasonic beam toward the driver by controlling the haptic stimulator when the driver's state corresponds to the warning target state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Juhyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 11007929
    Abstract: A method for improving pedestrian safety is provided. The method includes determining operating conditions of a vehicle using a plurality of vehicle sensors. A path of the vehicle is predicted based on the determined operating conditions. Pedestrian parameters for a pedestrian in a vicinity of the vehicle are acquired using the plurality of vehicle sensors. The pedestrian parameters include at least one of a position, a speed of the pedestrian, gait, body posture and a level of distractedness. A determination is made whether a notification of the pedestrian is necessary based on the determined vehicle operating conditions and the acquired pedestrian parameters. A mode of notification of the pedestrian is selected from a plurality of modes of notification, in response to determining that the notification of the pedestrian is necessary. The pedestrian is notified using the selected mode of notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Miguel A. Saez, Marcus J. Huber, Qinglin Zhang, Lei Wang, Sudhakaran Maydiga
  • Patent number: 10997842
    Abstract: A smart kitchen solution can help reduce fires in home kitchens by permitting a user to see, on a portable electronic device, whether a stove was left on or if there is an unexpected elevated temperature on the kitchen stove. Such an unexpected elevated temperature may be detected if the stove if left on without a pan on the stove, if the contents of a pan has boiled out of a pan, or if the stove is on at certain hours of the day, such as at night. The solution can include motion detectors, audible alerts, voice alerts and optional shutdown mechanisms to remotely turn off a stove. The system can include further options, such as built in fire extinguishing materials, arm and disarm features, various mounting capabilities and the ability to interact with a digital assistant, such as Google Home, Alexa, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Catherine Cora Ehrlich, Nicole Cora Ehrlich, John Stump
  • Patent number: 10991250
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods associated with lightweight docking stations for one or more micromobility transit vehicles. The docking station may include one or more racks configured to dock micromobility transit vehicles, a lock hole in a rack plate of the one or more racks, and a base. The lock hole may be configured to align with a respective locking device of each of the one or more micromobility transit vehicles. The base may be configured to elevate the one or more micromobility transit vehicles to align the respective locking device with the lock hole. A method may include identifying at least one rack from the one or more racks is available for docking the one or more micromobility transit vehicles and communicating with a mobile computing device to display an indication of the at least one rack available for docking the one or more micromobility transit vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Michael Arnold, Erik Keith Askin, Jonathan Scott Bernbach, Mayank Manesh Makwana, Griffin Samuel Valentine Thomson, Collin O'Neil Waldoch
  • Patent number: 10974648
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assist system includes: an operation part that is operable from a neutral position to a first position at one side or a second position at another side; a switch part that outputs an ON signal or an OFF signal in accordance with a position of the operation part; a control part that generates a turn signal in response to an output of the switch part; a detection part that detects a rear side situation of a vehicle; and an alert part that performs an alert based on an output of the ON signal of the switch part and a detection result of the detection part, wherein in a case where an operation to the second position is performed when the turn signal in accordance with an operation to the first position is generated or in a case where an operation to the second position is performed after the turn signal in accordance with an operation to the first position is generated, a control that performs only a visual alert is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Shimada, Toshinori Saiki, Hiroaki Hakukawa
  • Patent number: 10979046
    Abstract: An interlock system for signaling a nurse call patient station is disclosed. The interlock system may include a first terminal and a second terminal. The first and second terminals may be configured to be connected to corresponding terminals of a signaling loop of a nurse call patient station. The interlock system may further include a connection circuit. The connection circuit may be configured to electrically connect the first terminal to the second terminal. The interlock system may also include a control circuit in communication with, but isolated from, the connection circuit. The control circuit may include a microcontroller. The control circuit may be isolated from the connection circuit by an isolation circuit. The control circuit may be configured to operate the connection circuit to connect or disconnect the first terminal from the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Curbell Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 10971005
    Abstract: For each pair of traffic participants (TPs) entering an intersection, a time to collision (TTC) value is calculated. A matrix of TTC values between TPs entering the intersection is created. A matrix of criticality values containing a respective criticality value for each pair of TPs is created. Each criticality value is determined as a function of both TTC and at least one additional weighting factor. A basic safety message (BSM) and/or a pedestrian safety message (PSM) is broadcast on behalf of at least one traffic participant based on having determined the criticality for each pair of traffic participants and having identified a near-miss and/or a potential-collision situation between traffic participants based on the respective criticality values in the matrix of criticality values. One or more warnings are provided to a pedestrian, a driver of a vehicle, and/or a cyclist based on the broadcasted BSM and/or PSM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Adireddy, Andrew Phillip Bolduc
  • Patent number: 10968679
    Abstract: An automatic smoke/carbon monoxide evacuation system for a building having at least one existing ventilation fan and at least one ventilation passageway to outside the building is provided. The system includes a microprocessor and a smoke/carbon monoxide sensor coupled to the microprocessor and configured to detect presence of smoke/carbon monoxide and send a trigger signal to the microprocessor in response to detecting smoke/carbon monoxide. A power switch is coupled to the existing ventilation fan and is configured to automatically connect the existing ventilation fan to a power source in response to the trigger signal, so that the ventilation fan rotates at a high speed to ventilate the detected smoke/carbon monoxide via the existing ventilation passageway. An alarm device is further communicably coupled to the microprocessor and is configured to issue an alarm in response to the trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: COEVAC, LLC
    Inventor: Dan Combe
  • Patent number: 10946873
    Abstract: A distracted driving elimination system includes an image capture device within a passenger compartment of an automobile capturing images of a first hand and a second hand of a vehicle operator and a steering wheel. An analysis unit has a geometry and visual characteristics of multiple predetermined items saved in a memory. The analysis unit receives the images and compares the images to the predetermined items saved in the memory to identify if any one of the first hand or the second hand of the vehicle operator is not in direct contact with the steering and is in direct contact with one of the predetermined items thereby initiating a distracted driving event. A distracted driving signal is generated when the distracted driving event is initiated. An indication system generates an indication when the distracted driving signal is forwarded, the indication alerting the vehicle operator of the distracted driving event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Deng, Yusheng Zou, Jiang L. Du, Marco Gatti
  • Patent number: 10943462
    Abstract: A method implemented by a computer, the method includes: detecting a position of an electronic device capable of communicating with a portable device; setting a range of a position at which the electronic device provides a notification pertaining to the portable device based on a position of the electronic device that has communicated with the portable device; and providing the notification based on the range set in the setting and the position of the electronic device detected in the detecting of a position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Hasegawa, Noriyasu Kotani, Hisashi Tai, Terutada Akiyama, Taichi Goto, Hiroshi Kamehara, Yu Murakoshi, Masakazu Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 10940793
    Abstract: A ride-share system is disclosed. The system may comprise: one or more processors and memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors, the instructions comprising: while operating a vehicle in an autonomous mode, determine a transit stop; based on the determination, attempt to establish communication with a smart node; when communication is established with the smart node, query the smart node regarding whether to actuate a vehicle door to an open position; and when communication is not established with the smart node, determine whether to actuate the vehicle door to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahrdad Damsaz, Mostafa Parchami, Chandana Neerukonda, Krithika Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 10926098
    Abstract: A wearable monitoring device is provided. The wearable monitoring device includes a garment to hold an electrode, be worn about a subject, and include an orientation circuit. The monitoring device also includes a control unit coupled to the orientation circuit capable of measuring at least one parameter associated with the orientation circuit and determine whether the electrode is positioned in the garment with the conductive surface oriented towards the subject based on the at least one parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emil Oskin, Philip C Skalos, Thomas E Kaib
  • Patent number: 10928239
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for detecting a water depth level using capacitive sensors. The systems and methods disclosed herein receive a first capacitive signal from a first capacitive sensor in a wheel well of a vehicle. The systems and methods may determine that the first capacitive signal is not below a threshold value. The systems and methods display an image in a cab of the vehicle, wherein the image corresponds to a water depth level associated with the first capacitive signal. The systems and methods receive a second capacitive signal from a second capacitive sensor corresponding to a rising water level. The systems and methods display a warning message, on a display, indicating the rising water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Pietro Buttolo, Steven Schondorf, David James Tippy, Brian Bennie
  • Patent number: 10919444
    Abstract: Aspects of example systems and methods described herein discuss providing indications from a vehicle to other locations based on a variety of attributes. Indications may take the form of an indicator message. Indications may include information associated with whether one or more vehicles are platooning. Indications may be prevented from being distributed if one or more vehicles are not platooning. Law enforcement may be able to receive information indicating whether a vehicle is platooning in order to know whether to issue a ticket to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Peloton Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua P Switkes
  • Patent number: 10914972
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a detection device and a detection method for detecting the curvature of a display panel, including a detection platform which carries and transfers the display panel; a distance sensor installed on the detection platform and detecting a first height value H1 of the height between the end of the display panel and the distance sensor; and a controller which electrically connects the distance sensor, the controller includes a processor and a memory, the memory stores an executable instruction, the processor executes the executable instruction, the executable instruction includes sending the first height value H1 to the controller, the controller compares the first height value H1 with a reference height value H2, and issues a warning if the difference value ?H between the first height value H1 and the reference height value H2 is greater than a preset threshold value H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: HKC Corporation Limited, Chongqing HKC Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junqin Huang
  • Patent number: 10906493
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an underbody camera disposed at an underside of a body of a vehicle such that a ground surface under the body of the vehicle and being traveled on by the vehicle is at least partially viewed by the underbody camera. A control includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the underbody camera. The underbody camera views at least forward or at least rearward, and the control, via processing of image data captured by the underbody camera, determines presence of an object forward or rearward of the underbody camera and having height greater than a threshold height. The control, responsive to determination of presence of the object under the body of the vehicle that has height greater than the threshold height, generates an output to inform a driver of the vehicle of presence of the determined object under the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Theodore J. Church, Clarence P. McElroy, Timothy M. Phillips