Patents Examined by Shawna M Kingston
  • Patent number: 9978270
    Abstract: Embodiments describe new mechanisms for signalized intersection control. Embodiments expand inputs beyond traditional traffic control methods to include awareness of agency policies for signalized control, industry standardized calculations for traffic control parameters, geometric awareness of the roadway and/or intersection, and/or input of vehicle trajectory data relative to this intersection geometry. In certain embodiments, these new inputs facilitate a real-time, future-state trajectory modeling of the phase timing and sequencing options for signalized intersection control. Phase selection and timing can be improved or otherwise optimized based upon modeling the signal's future state impact on arriving vehicle trajectories. This improvement or optimization can be performed to reduce or minimize the cost basis of a user definable objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ECONOLITE GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Raamot
  • Patent number: 9959774
    Abstract: Systems and methods for aiding in pilot awareness of obstacles relative to aircraft features. An exemplary processor receives sensor information from one or more sensors mounted in an aircraft feature (e.g. light modules), determines if at least one obstacle is located within a predefined field of view based on the received sensor or database information and generates an image. The image includes an ownship icon having at least one feature representing wingtips of the aircraft and at least one indicator associated with the determined at least one obstacle. A display device presents the generated image. The display device presents a tip of a first sense coverage area adjacent to one wingtip feature associated with the port wing and a tip of the second sense coverage area adjacent to one wingtip feature associated with the starboard wing. The indicator is presented within at least one of the coverage areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Vasek, Ratan Khatwa, James C. Kirk, Olukayode Olofinboba, Pavel Kolcarek, Tomas Svoboda, Matej Dusik
  • Patent number: 9902072
    Abstract: A telepresence system includes a man-machine interface and a teleoperator configured to communicate bidirectionally with the man-machine interface via a communications channel. The teleoperator performs actions based on first signals generated due to a manual operation of the man-machine interface and transmitted over the communication channel, and sends second signals to the man-machine interface over a second communication channel. At least one buffer device buffers signals transferred through the communication channel and releases the signals delayed so that the signals coming from the man-machine interface and the signals coming from the teleoperator each are transmitted through the communication channel with an effective constant time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Jacob, Marc-Walter Ueberle, Thomas Neff, Martin Kuschel, Tobias Ortmaier
  • Patent number: 9903749
    Abstract: A field device for determining a process parameter value, comprising a measurement device for determining a process parameter value; circuitry for determining the reliability of the process parameter value; and signaling circuitry for providing the process parameter value and an indication of the reliability of the process parameter value to a host system via a current loop. The signaling circuitry is configurable between a first state in which the indication of the reliability is provided as a digital signal and the process parameter value is provided as an analog DC-value, and a second state in which the indication of the reliability is provided as a predetermined analog DC-value. Hereby, the number of unplanned process interruptions may be reduced when the host system is capable of receiving digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Tomas Wennerberg
  • Patent number: 9902369
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a desired vehicle function is provided. The apparatus comprises a base station configured to receive a command signal indicative of the desired vehicle function while in a receive mode. The base station is further configured to determine whether the received command signal includes at least one of a data component from a plurality of data components and to activate a transmit mode in the event the received command signal includes the at least one of the data component. The base station is further configured to determine whether the received command signal includes at least one additional data component from the plurality of data components while in the transmit mode and to determine that the portable device is positioned within a predetermined range in the event the received command signal includes the at least one additional data component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Humphrey, Riad Ghabra, Matthew Ryan Honkanen, Ronald O. King
  • Patent number: 9766362
    Abstract: A system and a method use dual telemetry for tools located in a wellbore. A first telemetry system and a second telemetry system coordinate communication with the tools. Both the first telemetry system and the second telemetry system may transmit data regarding the tools and/or drilling conditions from the tools to a surface location simultaneously. The first telemetry system or the second telemetry system may communicate with the surface location if communication using the other telemetry system is interrupted. The first telemetry system and the second telemetry system may have a master/slave relationship so that data requests from a specific telemetry system do not interfere with data requests from the other telemetry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Qiming Li, Desheng Zhang, Yi Zhang, Lili Zhong, Xueyuan Tang, Brian Oliver Clark
  • Patent number: 9747418
    Abstract: A portable monitoring device operates to remotely monitor a medical device for use in hospitals and the like. The portable monitoring device includes a signal receiver for receiving a first wireless signal. The medical device can be a portable drip infusion set of the type having a liquid supply, a drip chamber downstream of the liquid supply for forming liquid drops, a flexible tube connecting the drip chamber with an injection needle and a signal emitter for emitting the first wireless signal. The infusion set and the monitoring device each can include printed circuit boards (PCBs) and mutually interconnectible electric contacts. The infusion set includes an electronic circuitry that blocks programming of the infusion set when the monitoring device is not electrically connected to the infusion set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DRIPMATE A/S
    Inventors: Morten Mernoe, Morten Thing
  • Patent number: 9734301
    Abstract: Systems and methods can support presenting patient alarms to clinical care users. An alarm management system can maintain a mapping of patients to users as well as user context information. The alarm management system can receive alarm indications from medical devices associated with the patients along with alarm context information associated with the alarm indication. The alarm management system can determine a target user among the users according to evaluating the mapping of patients to users, the user context information, and the alarm context information. The alarm management system can determine a notification modality according to evaluating the alarm indication, the target user, a portion of the user context information associated with the target user, and the alarm context information. The alarm management system can transmit the alarm indication, the alarm context information, and the notification modality to a mobile device for presentation to the target user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Voalte, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin King, Sethumadavan Sanjay-Gopal, Michael G. Sica, Philip N. Fibiger, Donnie C. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 9684060
    Abstract: Spatially located ultrasound beacons are provided in known locations within a distributed communication system. The ultrasound beacons are configured to emit ultrasound pulses that can be received by client devices in ultrasound communication range of the beacons. The client devices are configured to analyze the received ultrasound pulses from the beacons to determine their time-difference of arrival and as a result, their location(s) within the distributed communication system. The client devices comprise inertial navigation systems (INS) that calculate client device location as the client device moves, and when received ultrasound signals are below a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: CorningOptical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich Wilhelm Heinz Neukirch, Ofer Saban
  • Patent number: 9643570
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting an operating state of a vehicle engine, for example, in order to arm or disarm a vehicle alarm system. The system comprises: an input coupled to a power line of a vehicle; means to filter out relatively high frequency transient noise components of a signal received from the power line; a first detector for receiving the filtered signal and detecting when transient noise associated with the power line rises above a first threshold and generating a first detection signal in response thereto; a second detector for receiving the filtered signal and detecting when the transient noise falls below a second threshold, which is lower than the first threshold, and generating a second detection signal in response thereto; and means for generating a first output signal in response to the first detection signal and a second output signal in response to the second detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TRACKER NETWORK (UK) LIMITED
    Inventor: Roderick Whitlock
  • Patent number: 9640068
    Abstract: What is provided is recording capability for each of the modules utilized by the first responders and other personnel within the area of the incident, with the stored information at each of the first responders' modules being read out through the ad hoc network, where it can be uploaded to storage. The stored information can be displayed at an incident commander work station in real time to give the incident commander a realistic view of the timeline and the severity of the incident, as well as the response. The use of the ad hoc network permits offloading stored information from each of the first responders' modules so as to free up storage within the modules. By providing storage at every node of the ad hoc network, one has access to a timeline of the actions at the incident as well as redundancy, which enhances the memories and observational skills of the first responders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Greene, William E. Tonseth, Mihir D. Boal, William J. Delaney
  • Patent number: 9449514
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes connecting to a remote system and requesting data relating to a quality of air level in the vicinity of a known vehicle location. The method further includes receiving data relating to the quality of air level and comparing the data to one or more predetermined threshold levels of tolerance. If the data exceeds at least one threshold level of tolerance an automatic vehicle computing system response is instructed. In this example, the method also includes activating one or more vehicle systems in response to the data exceeding the at least one threshold level of tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Schunder, Gary Steven Strumolo, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad
  • Patent number: 9424697
    Abstract: A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To allow easy and convenient access to empty portable electrical energy storage device compartments within the vehicles, if the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as a key fob or other wireless device of a user, an empty portable electrical energy storage device compartment that is closed or locked, is unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically. Also, if the portable electrical energy storage device compartment is in another desired state to have the compartment unlocked, such as having a portable electrical energy storage device in the compartment that has a charge level below a particular threshold, the compartment will likewise be unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Tsung Wu, Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Jui Sheng Huang, Matthew Whiting Taylor, Huang-Cheng Hung
  • Patent number: 9384648
    Abstract: A marine emergency position indicating system that can communicate wirelessly between beacon and search engine is provided. When someone carrying the beacon falls into the water, power supply of the beacon opens through drowning automatic switch or manual switch, therefore the beacon can emit wireless SOS signals out. Rescue boat or aircraft installed with search engine can search and receive SOS signals sent from beacons over a 5-kilometer radius along the way to accidental site. The search engine can distinguish the beacons around this area and determine the direction and approximate distance between drowning persons carrying beacons and the search engine through wireless communication technology and wireless positioning technology to help rescuers implement fixed-point rescue. Therefore, the marine emergency position indicating system can overcome the bad weather impact on marine rescue, speed up the rescue process and improve the success possibilities of fixed-point rescue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHANGHAI RADIO EQUIPMENT INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Xiaoshang Yan, Yi Liang, Peng Yan
  • Patent number: 9383224
    Abstract: A system comprising a data collector and a plurality of end consumers connected to and supplied with a utility by a utility distribution station. Each end consumer comprises a metering device arranged to meter the end consumer's consumption of the utility supplied by the distribution station. The metering device is arranged to report consumption data to the data collector using a high frequency ID, the high frequency ID being anonymous so that the consumption data reported by the metering device together with the high frequency ID is not able to be associated to a particular metering device and to report the consumption data to the data collector using a low frequency ID so that the consumption data reported by the metering device together with the low frequency ID is able to be attributed to a particular metering device. The data collector stores IDs and is arranged to only accept consumption data carrying a said stored ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Costas Efthymiou, Georgios Kalogridis
  • Patent number: 9360854
    Abstract: A first device is configured to receive, from a second device, an indication of a presence of a third device inside of a vehicle, where the first device is located inside of the vehicle. The first device is further configured to receive data associated with the vehicle, determine a vehicle condition, of the vehicle, based on the data associated with the vehicle, and deactivate a function associated with the third device based on the vehicle condition. The first device may prevent the third device from performing the deactivated function when an instruction to perform the deactivated function is received by the third device via manual input. The first device may permit the third device to perform the deactivated function when the instruction to perform the deactivated function is received by the third device via a hands-free device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Lalit R. Kotecha, Matthew W. Nelson, Sagiv Draznin
  • Patent number: 9072398
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a motor-driven curtain or blind assembly are provided. For example, in some embodiments the motor drive assembly includes a track, a lead runner, and a plurality of sensors. The track can have a plurality of coils that can be electrically activated to generate an electromagnetic field to cause the lead runner to slide along the track. The lead runner may include magnet housing with a magnet to interact with the electromagnetic field. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors or switches can be disposed between the coils. The sensors can be configured to activate the electromagnetic field locally to cause the lead runner to slide along the track. Examples of the sensors or switches include, but are not limited to, a reed switch, a silicone magnetic switch, an optical switch, a mechanical limit switch, a proximity switch, a magnetic encoder, or an optical encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Jackson Global Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong Kun Choo, Hong Seng Tan
  • Patent number: 9000939
    Abstract: A mud pulse telemetry tool is used in a drill string that has a drilling fluid flowing inside. The mud pulse telemetry tool may include a pulser disposed in the drill string and a drive system for driving the pulser. The pulser may include a non-rotating mud pulse stator and a mud pulse rotor disposed proximate to the stator. The drive system may include a turbine stator, a turbine rotor, and a rotatable inertial member magnetically coupled to the turbine rotor. The inertial member may be operatively connected at a first end to the mud pulse rotor. In the mud pulse telemetry tool, rotational energy may be transmitted from the turbine rotor to the rotatable inertial member by a magnetic coupling. The rotatable inertial member may be operatively connected to a supplemental motor that is adapted to supplement rotational energy imparted to the rotatable inertial member by the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Sitka, Kristopher Sherrill, Daniel Winslow
  • Patent number: 8693640
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for preparing for a service disruption are provided. Information relating to an activity at a target location is received. Upon receiving information relating to at least the activity at the target location, stored data related to the activity and the target location are gathered. A probability of a service disruption at the target location based on at least the stored data related to the activity and the target location is assessed and the target location is monitored. Upon detecting a change in services associated to the target location, an alert is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Francis Triano, James Gordon Beattie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8669847
    Abstract: The directions of at least two fibers arranged at a tag are detected to identify the tag and an item intended to be attached thereto. The fibers have an impedance for high frequency electromagnetic waves, which impedance is dependent on a magnetic field at the fiber. Electromagnets generate a modulation magnetic field having an amplitude modulated magnetic component with a first frequency; and a bias magnetic field for counterbalancing any constant magnetic fields parallel to the direction of the fiber. A microwave transmitter directs a frequency modulated microwave signal towards the fiber via a transmitting antenna. The microwave reflected by the microfibers is received by a receiving antenna coaxial with the transmitting antenna and is used to identify tag by determining the orientation of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Carl Tyrén