Patents Examined by Sharmin Akhter
  • Patent number: 11170628
    Abstract: Disclosures of the present invention describe a monitoring device, consisting of a signal receiving unit, a detecting module, a main controller module, a display module, and a plurality of buttons, wherein the signal receiving unit is electrically connected to an electronic device through an electrical connector. Particularly, a user can operate the main controller module, by pressing or rotating one of the plurality buttons, to transmit at least one operation information to the display module, so as to show the operation information on the display module. Moreover, in the case of an operation parameter of at least one electronic element in the electronic device being detected to exceed a threshold value, the detecting module informs the main controller module to show at least one warning signal on the display module, such that the user is aware of noting the operation state of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHWEST INSTRUMENT INC.
    Inventor: Yi-An Pan
  • Patent number: 11170630
    Abstract: Aspects provide methods to discretely and intelligently make a user aware of a service or product offered by a subscriber without distracting the user with a full advertisement. More specifically, aspects provide methods and systems for selectively outputting an audio chime in response to a trigger event, wherein the audio chime provides an indication of a service or product offered by the subscriber. In response to a user's acceptance of the audio chime, a second chime, further engaging the user, is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Asher, Todd Reily
  • Patent number: 11120690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing an environmental image of an environment of a mobile apparatus, comprising the following steps: Receiving and/or recording environmental data using an input apparatus, wherein the environmental data image the environment and comprise information on static objects and/or dynamic objects in the environment, executing the following steps for a current and for at least one future point in time by means of an estimating apparatus: estimating a state probability distribution for at least one of the static objects and/or dynamic objects based on the received and/or recorded environmental data, creating a risk potential field map of the environment based on the estimated state probability distribution of the at least one static object and/or dynamic object, wherein this is done taking into account at least one potential risk enhancement, and combining the risk potential field maps into a risk potential field map sequence, and outputting the risk potential field map sequ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Toni Günther, Robin Wehner, Sven Horstmann, Sönke Freter, Dean Elliott
  • Patent number: 11080951
    Abstract: An embodiment of an electronic access control system includes an electronic access apparatus, an electronic lock, and an access control administration program. The electronic access apparatus provides a wireless power signal and a wireless digital data signal to the electronic lock. The wireless power signal can be the only source of power used by the electronic lock to actuate an electronic lock mechanism. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes a piezoelectric latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: LOCKFOB, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Paul Kirkjan
  • Patent number: 11076685
    Abstract: In some embodiments, usage of a personal care device in compliance with a recommended use is improved. A usage monitor computing device may detect and store records of use of the personal care device. The usage monitor computing device may transmit the records of use to a monitoring server device via a network. The usage monitor computing device may determine whether the records of use indicate that the personal care device has been used as directed by the recommendations, and if so, may determine whether one or more rewards for use should be provided to the user. The usage monitor computing device may receive notifications of the rewards, and may present notifications of the rewards to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Zane Bowman Allen Miller, Jeffrey Kissinger, Geoffrey F. Deane
  • Patent number: 11008143
    Abstract: A “smart” closure system, apparatus, and method are contemplated. The closure includes mechanical capture and release mechanisms, electromechanical and/or optical indicators, wireless technologies, and/or web-based or remote authentication, verification, and serialization via remotely located data servers. A mobile computing device may further augment certain functions. The resulting system allows for anti-counterfeiting, authentication, serialization, and other capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: RIEKE LLC
    Inventors: Simon Knight, David Pritchett
  • Patent number: 11000024
    Abstract: A device, system, and method of controlling pests are disclosed. A pest control device includes a sensor having a sensor cell and a controller. A surface of the sensor cell is coated with an agent that reacts with a targeted biochemical analyte secreted by pests. The controller is coupled to the sensor and is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor cell indicative of a rate of change in sensor mass detected on the surface of the sensor cell, determine whether the rate of change in the sensor mass based on the received sensor data exceeds a predefined threshold rate, and transmit a pest detection alert notification to a server in response to a determination that the rate of change exceeds the predetermined threshold rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Beach, Andrey N. Soukhojak, Neil A. Spomer, Shane L. Mangold, Ravi B. Shankar, Sukrit Mukhopadhyay, Jeremy Chris P. Reyes, Bruce A. Jacobs, William L. Winniford, Ronda L. Hamm, Phillip J. Howard, Andrew J. Pasztor, Jr., Mary D. Evenson, Thomas G. Patterson, Natalie C. Giampietro
  • Patent number: 10998937
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed facilitating an electronic resource distribution by embedding a short-range wireless tag in a resource distribution request that stores instructions for processing the resource distribution in a fully electronic processing flow. As such, the resource distribution request holder is capable of processing the request without issuing a resource distribution document to the resource requester. In additional embodiments of the invention, the short-range wireless tag further stores instructions for arranging subsequent resource distributions to the resource requester to occur without the need for the resource requester to present a resource request document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Thomas McConnell, William Bradley Burks, Daniel James Doherty, Justin Riley duPont, Thomas Elliott, Tony England, Matthew Murphy, Nickolas Patrick Parker, Stephen Philip Selfridge, Steven Michael Twombly, James J. Williams
  • Patent number: 10984639
    Abstract: A monitoring method to detect a state of a door provided with a locking system. The method comprises the following steps: a measurement step during which a mechanical wave sensor measures a signal corresponding to a mechanical wave propagated in the door; a step of comparison between a reference signal stored in the memory and the mechanical wave signal in order to detect a state of the door. The reference signal is measured by the mechanical wave sensor while the locking system of the door is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: INVOXIA
    Inventors: Ludovine Soulhiard, Serge Renouard
  • Patent number: 10970979
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a product on display includes a display pedestal configured to secure the product to a fixture to which the display pedestal is mounted. The display pedestal includes a tether to allow movement of the product relative to the fixture. The system includes a sensor system including a capacitive sensor pad. The capacitive sensor pad is supported by the fixture and configured to detect the movement of the product via the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SENNCO SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Marszalek
  • Patent number: 10964187
    Abstract: A swimming pool monitoring system using a plurality of sensor systems to detect the presence of objects within a defined perimeter of the swimming pool prior to the objects reaching the edge of the pool. The objects may be people or animals. The sensor systems may include a ranging sensor, an audio sensor, an olfactory sensor and a video imaging sensor. The sensors are monitored by a computer system that has stored data for objects authorized to be within the pool perimeter. The system provides an alert or alarm upon detection of an unauthorized or unknown object in the monitored perimeter by comparing detected objects to the stored data. The system can determine the distance of the object from the pool edge and provide an adjustable alarm as the objects nears the pool edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: POOL KNIGHT, LLC
    Inventors: Ramy R. Gali, Phillip E. Matar, David C. May
  • Patent number: 10948591
    Abstract: An exit obstruction warning device monitoring an exit door and broadcasting an alert regarding an obstruction blocking the exit door is provided. The exit obstruction warning device includes a sensor, a processing module, and an output module. The sensor monitors the exit door for the obstruction. The output module broadcasts an alarm notification in response to the obstruction. The processing module receives a signal from the sensor that describes the obstruction blocking the exit door. The processing module processes the signal and operates the output module based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Louis Spardel
  • Patent number: 10921209
    Abstract: A liquid sensor, including: a) a housing; b) at least one sensor having at least two metallic contact surfaces for detecting a liquid; and c) a processing unit for processing sensor signals of the at least one sensor, a function of the liquid sensor being controllable by an actuation of at least one of the metallic contact surfaces. A method for controlling a function of a liquid sensor is also proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Andreas Jung, Heiko Schoenbeck
  • Patent number: 10864853
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an information system with at least one pattern generator having a plurality of light nodes, each light node including at least one light emitting element, such as an LED. The at least one pattern generator is positioned with regard to a user of the apparatus such that it is located in the peripheral view of the user. A controller is operatively coupled to the pattern generator and configured to selectively initiate the generation of a visual light pattern on the pattern generator, the visual light pattern being indicative of information which is to be provided to the user of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
    Inventors: Kevin Kruse, Kimberly Peiler, Johnathan Weiser
  • Patent number: 10843698
    Abstract: An information processing system includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire traveling information indicating traveling conditions of a first vehicle traveling on a road, a determination unit configured to determine one or more driving operations of a driver driving the first vehicle by using the traveling information acquired when a second vehicle approaches the first vehicle, an evaluation unit configured to perform evaluation of safety related to the driver's driving by using determination results of the determination unit, and an updating unit configured to acquire first evaluation results of the evaluation unit during a first predetermined period to compare the first evaluation results with second evaluation results of the evaluation unit during a second predetermined period before the first predetermined period, and to update the second evaluation results based on comparison results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Nishimura, Yoshihiro Oe
  • Patent number: 10832563
    Abstract: A system for preventing a false alarm that occurs at a building, the system includes a processing circuit configured to receive, via a communications interface, building data including events for the building devices. The processing circuit is configured to determine, based on the events, whether a false alarm rule has triggered, where the false alarm rule indicates relationships between one or more of the events that is indicative of a situation at the building site that causes the false alarm, generate a parameter update for at least one of the plurality of building devices in response to determining that the false alarm rule has triggered, and implement the parameter update by providing, via the communications interface, the parameter update to the at least one of the building devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Gopi Subramanian, Christine Trainor, Jason Kapuschat
  • Patent number: 10824882
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for improving vehicle parking skills. In an exemplary implementation, one or more cameras that are mounted in a vehicle may be used to capture a set of images when the vehicle is parked in a parking spot. The images may include a portion of the vehicle, a portion of another vehicle parked in an adjacent parking spot, an object located outside the parking spot, and/or one or more lines that delineate the parking spot. The images may be processed by a computer to determine distance parameters between the vehicle and items such as the other vehicle, the object located outside the parking spot, and/or the lines of the parking spot. A parking skills grade may then be assigned by the computer, to a driver of the vehicle, based on the distance parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Ignaczak, Cheri Lyn Hansen
  • Patent number: 10801235
    Abstract: An electronic door lock is operable to control access to an access controlled area adjacent the inner side of a door. The door lock includes an outer base, an inner base, a locking mechanism movable between a locked and unlocked position in response to a control signal, and a control circuit disposed within the inner base and operable to generate the control signal in response to the presentation of an input credential. A plurality of different types of credential readers arc each selectively attachable and removable from an attachment interface when the outer base is attached to the door to electrically connect the selected one of the plurality of different types of credential readers to the control circuit. The selected credential reader receives data from a user or credential and generates the input credential. A communication module is operable to communicate with a device separate from the electronic door lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: James W. Brown, James W. Overbey, Alfred S. Levesque
  • Patent number: 10803467
    Abstract: A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Luca D. Farioli Brioschi, Luis V. Ramirez Chaidez, Lawrence J. Ptasienski, Mark T. Anderson, Michael E. Hamerly
  • Patent number: 10788855
    Abstract: A method for managing a body device includes obtaining, by a mobile personal station, an identifier of a body device; obtaining, by the mobile personal station according to the identifier of the body device, a communication mode supported by the body device; obtaining, by the mobile personal station, a body parameter and a location parameter that are of a user that carries the body device; and setting, by the mobile personal station, the body device according to the body parameter, the location parameter, and the communication mode supported by the body device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yingtao Li, Xijun Xue, Yun Lei, Tao Huang