Patents Examined by Steven Lim
  • Patent number: 10885776
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to providing contextual awareness about a roadway segment from an infrastructure device. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to receiving a context request from a nearby vehicle, acquiring sensor data from at least one infrastructure sensor associated with the roadway segment. The method includes analyzing the sensor data to produce a roadway context by executing a learning module over the sensor data. The roadway context is a characterization of a current state of the roadway segment. The method includes communicating the roadway context to the nearby vehicle to improve a situational awareness of the nearby vehicle about the roadway segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Amacker
  • Patent number: 10863724
    Abstract: A system and method for objectively grading a cut of meat is provided. The system generally comprises an animal having at least one sensor associated therewith, a processor operably connected to the at least one sensor, a QR device operably connected to the processor and configured to read QR codes applied to a cut of meat, a plurality of computing entities operably connected to the processor via a network, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon. The system may collect lifetime data of an animal until fabrication. The system may then track and collect data about the carcass of the animal throughout the fabrication process to the point of sale. Based on this data, the system may create a quality score that a user may view prior to purchasing a cut of meat using an application of their computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Animal Health Analytics, Inc
    Inventors: Harrison Moss, Thiag Loganathan, Mohan Jayaraman, Terry Brandebourg, Matt Ackerman
  • Patent number: 10815717
    Abstract: A system and method for providing hands free operation of at least one vehicle door that include determining if a portable device is located within at least one local area polling zone of a vehicle. The system and method also include determining if the portable device is stationary for a predetermined period of time within the at least one local area polling zone of the vehicle. The system and method further include supplying an amount of power to a motor associated with the at least one vehicle door to open or close the at least one vehicle door if it is determined that the portable device is stationary for the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wesley W. Kim, Brian K. Lickfelt, Douglas R. Reed, Emanuel Ulises Perez Zenteno, Tyler J. Rupp, Kentaro Yoshimura, Chyuan Y. Muh, Spencer A. Kennedy, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10806658
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a processing unit that sets, on a basis of acquired input information, a feedback target range in which an object existing on inside serves as a target to be fed back to a user, in which the processing unit outputs information regarding the set feedback target range to an output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Takada, Kumi Yashiro, Hiroko Inagaki
  • Patent number: 10800424
    Abstract: A driver condition detection system 1, 1? comprises a driver monitor camera 10 capturing an image of a face of a driver to generate a facial image of the driver, a facial information detecting part 21 detecting a facial orientation or a line of sight of the driver based on the facial image, a threshold value range setting part 22 setting a threshold value range allowed as the facial orientation or the line of sight, a driver condition judging part 23 judging that the driver is driving while distracted if the facial orientation or the line of sight is maintained outside of the threshold value range for a predetermined time period or more, and a road discriminating part 24 discriminating a shape of a road ahead of the vehicle 80. The threshold value range setting part expands the threshold value range according to the shape of the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Kenichiroh Hara, Junya Kasugai, Koichiro Yamauchi, Kazuhiro Tomosue
  • Patent number: 10791965
    Abstract: A method for determining a rate of repetitive bodily motion of an individual with negligible contact with the individual begins by one or more computing devices transmitting a signal for reflection off of the individual and receiving a reflected signal. The method continues with one or more computing device applying a frequency estimation algorithm to the baseband signal to produce an estimated spectral density, where the estimated spectral density is in frequency domain and includes at least one frequency component corresponding to the repetitive bodily motion. The method further includes applying a repetitive bodily motion pattern search function to the estimated spectral density to estimate the rate of the repetitive bodily motion of the individual based on the at least one frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Sayfe Kiaei
  • Patent number: 10789838
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for dynamically communicating information of an area of interest by way of road marker devices, such as road cones, pucks, barricade, or the like. The apparatus may communication information for areas of interest including road work zones, traffic accidents, disabled vehicles, or other road hazards. The road marker devices include processing circuitry configured to determine a peripheral shape as a boundary indicated by the road marker devices as the information of the area of interest, and communicate the information of the peripheral shape from a marker device to vehicles approaching the area of interest. The road markers may communicate information of the area of interest to autonomous vehicles, or vehicles having certain sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Matt Amacker
  • Patent number: 10773724
    Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a mounting element attached at an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, with the mounting element adapted for mounting of an accessory module thereto and demounting of the accessory module therefrom. The accessory module includes a camera, and electrical circuitry associated with the camera is disposed within the accessory module. The accessory module includes a portion that faces towards the windshield when the accessory module is mounted to the mounting element attached at the windshield. The portion includes wall structure, and the lens of the camera protrudes through the wall structure to exterior of the accessory module. The accessory module and mounting element are configured so that, with the accessory module mounted to the mounting element, the lens is facing towards the windshield and the camera has a field of view appropriate for a driver assistance system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joshua L. DeWard, Steven L. Brown, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10768008
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to processing remotely captured sensor data. A computing platform having at least one processor, a communication interface, and memory may receive, via the communication interface, from a user computing device, sensor data captured by the user computing device using one or more sensors built into the user computing device. Subsequently, the computing platform may analyze the sensor data received from the user computing device by executing one or more data processing modules. Then, the computing platform may generate trip record data based on analyzing the sensor data received from the user computing device and may store the trip record data in a trip record database. In addition, the computing platform may generate user record data based on analyzing the sensor data received from the user computing device and may store the user record data in a user record database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Pratheek M. Harish, Benjamin Robertson Yeomans, Alexander Herrmann, Kyle Patrick Schmitt, Venu Madhav Tammali, Samantha Mait
  • Patent number: 10757989
    Abstract: A composite fabric is disclosed in which an information beacon is embedded within the composite fabric to assist with loss prevention, anti-counterfeiting, locating lost individuals or the like. In embodiments, layers of fabric may be joined using adhesive, stitching, quilted stitching, riveting, or other means to securely house an information beacon. In embodiments of the invention, an information beacon may be encased in a housing that provides resistance to environmental factors such as moisture and temperature and allows the fabric to be washed in a conventional laundry cycle. In embodiment, Bluetooth Low Energy device that utilizes a smartphone and mobile application software to provide the location of the beacon. In alternate embodiments, RFID or other technology may be used. The composite fabric of the present invention has myriad uses and may be used to fabricate articles such as clothing, handbags, wallets, shoes, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: Kiyeon Nam
  • Patent number: 10759442
    Abstract: Dangerous driving events may be reported by detecting an occurrence of a dangerous event relating to the operation of a vehicle. A notification message of the dangerous event may be generated involving a time of occurrence of the dangerous event, a location of the dangerous event, and an event type of a plurality of event types for the dangerous event. The notification message may then be transmitted to communicate the occurrence dangerous driving event and information related to the dangerous driving event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Leon Stenneth, Leo Modica
  • Patent number: 10744977
    Abstract: A method for operating a passive access system for motor vehicles includes arranging multiple transmission antennas at different locations on a motor vehicle for sending out low frequency signals. A mobile ID transponder, formed by a 3D-receiving antenna assembly, receives the low frequency signals. The antennas send out time-delayed first signals and then simultaneously send out signals. A signal strength is detected by the 3D antenna assembly in the ID transponder for each spatial direction. Information related to the space-direction-dependent signal strengths is transmitted from the ID transponder to the motor vehicle. Depending on the received information, the transmission signal strengths are adjusted. Then, further low frequency signals are sent, and received in the ID transponder. Based on further signal strength information, a plausibility check is performed in order to detect an extension of the signal path between the motor vehicle and the ID transponder via intermediate stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Neuhoff
  • Patent number: 10743688
    Abstract: A beverage vessel includes: a beverage container in which a beverage may be stored said beverage container having an upper opening by which beverage may be poured in and poured out of the beverage container and a wall extending from the opening to the bottom of the beverage container; a closure element adapted to be positioned in the upper opening of the beverage container; a light distribution element arranged at the closure element; and a light emitter positioned such that the light emitted by the light emitter passes at least a part of the volume of the beverage container before entering the light distribution element; wherein said closure element comprises a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising at least three locking arms extending in radial direction of the beverage vessel to the beverage container, wherein each arm of the locking element comprises an elastic portion being elastic in the radial direction of the beverage vessel; the beverage container comprises at least one concave port
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RIPRUP Company S.A.
    Inventors: Monique Bissen, Josef Schucker
  • Patent number: 10740993
    Abstract: A system and method for providing hands free operation of at least one vehicle door that include receiving at least one polling response signal that is sent by a portable device and analyzing the at least one polling response signal to determine a signal strength of the at least one polling response signal. The system and method additionally include determining if the portable device is located within at least one local area polling zone of the vehicle based on a comparison of the signal strength of the at least one polling response signal to at least one local area threshold value that is specifically associated with at least one transceiver of the vehicle that receives the at least one polling response signal with a highest signal strength and determining if the portable device is stationary for a predetermined period of time within the at least one local area polling zone of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wesley W. Kim, Brian K. Lickfelt, Douglas R. Reed, Emanuel Ulises Perez Zenteno, Tyler J. Rupp, Kentaro Yoshimura, Chyuan Y. Muh, Spencer A. Kennedy, Tomonori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10742438
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for group-controlling devices. Group information on interoperable devices among a plurality of electronic devices is acquired. The interoperable devices indicated in the group information are controlled as a group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hyungrae Cho, Jihyeon Kweon, Seokmin Oh, Kangmin Lee, Yousef Kharsim
  • Patent number: 10741074
    Abstract: An indoor positioning energy-saving lighting device has a central processing module, a light source control module, a motion sensing module, a communication module, and an indoor positioning module. The light source control module, the motion sensing module, the communication module, and the indoor positioning module are electrically connected to the central processing module. The motion sensing module continuously sends out an identification code and a turn-on message. The motion sensing module senses a movement of an object or the communication module receives the light-on message, the light source control module controls the light source to illuminate, and the indoor positioning module is used to memorize the location information of other indoor positioning energy-saving lighting devices and position information of an external gyroscope received by the communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Brilliant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chan Tai, Cheng-Pang Liao
  • Patent number: 10741046
    Abstract: A system for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall includes a mobile device configured to communicate a network, a notification module, and a wearable device configured to communicate with the mobile device, the wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured to record detected movement on the activity log. The notification module is configured to effect a selectable setting of a rate of communication between the mobile device and the wearable device based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a fall discriminator within the activity log, where the selectable setting defines a predetermined period of communication between the mobile device and the wearable device. The fall discriminator is configured to determine when the activity log includes a notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FALLCALL SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Shea C. Gregg
  • Patent number: 10730478
    Abstract: A method to actuate a locking element for a vehicle including detecting a movement of an object using an optical sensor, activating an ultrasound sensor in accordance with the detected movement, detecting a gesture using the ultrasound sensor, and actuating the locking element in accordance with the detected gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Bernd Ette
  • Patent number: 10733868
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating an automated response to a catastrophic event, that includes (1) analyzing a sample set of data generated in association with a catastrophic event to determine a threshold pattern; (2) receiving, with customer permission or affirmative consent, home sensor data from a smart home controller via wireless communication or data transmission, the home sensor data including data regarding at least one of (i) structural status; (ii) wind speed; (iii) availability of electricity; (iv) presence of water; (v) temperature; (vi) pressure; and/or (vii) presence of pollutants in the air and/or water; (3) determining, based upon or from computer analysis of the home sensor data, whether the home sensor data indicates a match to the threshold pattern; and (4) automatically generating a response if the home sensor data indicates a match to the threshold pattern. As a result, catastrophic events and responses thereto may be improved through usage of a remote network of home sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Phillip Sangpil Moon, Sunish Menon, Jeffrey Kinsey, Jeffrey Wilson Stoiber
  • Patent number: 10722118
    Abstract: A system comprises a storage device, a piece of medical equipment, a portable computing device, and a hub portal. The piece of medical equipment has at least one electrically powered feature and comprises either a medical examination table or a storage cabinet. The storage device is operable to store data and is remotely located relative to the first piece of medical equipment and relative to the portable computing device. The hub portal is operable to provide communication of one or both of data or commands between the storage device, the piece of medical equipment, and the portable computing device. A method includes enablement or activation of an electrically powered feature of medical equipment upon entry of a portable computing device into a medical examination room. The method also includes disablement or further activation of the electrically powered feature upon exit of the portable computing device from the medical examination room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventors: Asad Abu-Tarif, Thomas L. Treon, Steven K. Cordonnier, Carlos J. Castillo, Robert Menke, Ruomei Zhang, Jon E. Wells