Patents Examined by Steven Lim
  • Patent number: 10264996
    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, receiving a reflected signal, and down-converting the reflected signal to a baseband 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, and 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Sayfe Kiaei
  • Patent number: 10269226
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring a vehicle operator and for monitoring the environment of a vehicle operator. In particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining a physical position of an operator within a vehicle and for determining environmental conditions surrounding the vehicle operator. The systems may include at least one of: an image sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a microphone or a combination or sub-combination thereof. The methods may determine a position and/or an orientation of a vehicle operator's head, arms, hands, legs, feet, etc., a combination thereof or a sub-combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Freeck, Alex E. Ford, Paul Sloan, Ryan T. Schmidt, Mihir D. Angal, Neel Kothari
  • Patent number: 10268280
    Abstract: A method and system for positioning based device control. The method includes receiving device control instructions associated with function control of a device based on a positioning of a wearable hardware device of a user. Communications between the device and the wearable hardware device are synchronized and a position signal indicating a current position of the wearable hardware device with respect to a body of the user is received. In response, a command associated with controlling a specified function of the device is received and a command is executed resulting in the specified function of the device being modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Seacat Deluca, Clifford A. Pickover, Dana L. Price, Aaron J. Quirk
  • Patent number: 10264339
    Abstract: A wearable haptic device is provided. The wearable haptic device includes a band having at least one haptic device attached to the band. A power source is operatively connected to the vibration device. The vibration device may further include an input configured to connect to a music playing device. The vibration device produces a vibration based on the output of the music playing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: David Todd Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10246012
    Abstract: A steering wheel includes an indicator. The indicator includes a light source that emits light and a light guide. The light guide includes an outer surface and an end opposing the light source. The light emitted from the light source enters the end of the light guide, and some of the light is emitted from the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Renge Asakawa, Atsushi Nagata, Yasushi Hibino, Shinichi Takeda
  • Patent number: 10231518
    Abstract: A control docking station system for controlling locking engagement between a first female member and a male member that together form a locking mechanism. The first female member is connected to a safety device. The male member can be locked to and released from the first female member. The system includes a controller configured to sense an unsafe interlock signal. A second female member is operably connected to the controllers housing. Each female member includes a receiver base and a pair of pivoting locking tabs that is engageable with a key-like projection on the male member. The male member may be unlocked from the first female member when the controller senses an interruption to the unsafe interlock signal or if the unsafe interlock signal is overridden. The male member may be docked in the second female member during safe circumstances and/or the safety device is unused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Control Dynamics Inc.
    Inventor: Eric M. Moran
  • Patent number: 10235508
    Abstract: Systems and methods for high fidelity multi-modal out-of-band biometric authentication with cross-checking are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for integrated biometric authentication may include (1) receiving, from a user, biometric data; (2) at least one computer processor performing machine-based biometric matching on the biometric data; (3) the at least one computer processor determining that human identity confirmation is necessary; (4) the at least one computer processor processing the biometric data; (5) the at least one computer processor identifying at least one contact for human identity confirmation; (6) the at least one computer processor sending at least a portion of the processed biometric data for the user to the at least one contact; (7) receiving, from the at least one contact, human confirmation information; and (8) the at least one computer processor authenticating the user based on the machine-based biometric matching and the human confirmation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
  • Patent number: 10223915
    Abstract: A system for protecting the safety of occupants exiting and entering a vehicle is disclosed. The system has sensors on the interior, exterior and remotely of the vehicle and one or more imaging devices that project an image onto the pavement supporting the vehicle as well as optional data input devices all communicating with a system controller. The system anticipates that the occupant will be leaving the vehicle and the time it will take for the occupant to fully exit the vehicle. The system further controls the imaging devices to warn the drivers of oncoming traffic of the occupant's egress and warn or block the egress of the occupant should a particularly dangerous condition exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventors: Russell Haines, Cory Grenier
  • Patent number: 10216278
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which in a conventional non-grounding man-machine interface having no reaction base on the human body and for giving the existence of a virtual object and the impact force of a collision to a person, a haptic sensation of a torque, a force and the like can be continuously presented in the same direction, which cannot be presented by only the physical characteristic of a haptic sensation presentation device. In a haptic presentation device, the rotation velocity of at least one rotator in the haptic presentation device is controlled by a control device, and a vibration, a force or a torque as the physical characteristic is controlled, so that the user is made to conceive various haptic information of the vibration, force, torque or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Miraisens, Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Nakamura, Yukio Fukui, Masataka Sakai
  • Patent number: 10204246
    Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) for an RFID tag includes at least two antenna ports for coupling to at least two antennas. The IC may be configured to determine the port from which it receives an input signal, and provide a first functionality if it receives the input from a first port and a second functionality if it receives the input from a second port. The IC may be configured to determine and/or offer a functionality based on the receiving port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
    Inventors: Yael Maguire, Ronald A. Oliver, Christopher J. Diorio
  • Patent number: 10202844
    Abstract: Methods, techniques, and systems for transmitting a data frame of an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry signal to or from a downhole location can be performed using multi-channel transmissions in which at least two different channels at two different frequencies are used to send a long header and the data frame. At least a portion of the long header is transmitted at a first frequency, and at least a portion of the data frame and any remaining portion of the long header not transmitted at the first frequency are transmitted at one or more additional frequencies different from each other and the first frequency. In one example, only two channels are used: one channel is used to transmit all of the long header, another channel is used to transmit all of the data frame, and either of the channels is used to transmit an identifier identifying the type of the data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Evoution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Mingdong Xu, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 10196153
    Abstract: The method allows to monitor a composite material comprising an epoxy resin filled with electrically conductive nanoparticles, wherein at least one electrical property i.e. impedance of the composite material is influenced by being subjected to a mechanical deformation. The method provides for inserting the composite material in an electric circuit emitting an electric signal whose value depends on the electrical property, so that, when the value of the signal overcomes a given threshold value, a warning message is delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: LEONARDO S.p.A.
    Inventors: Patrizia Lamberti, Giovanni Spinelli, Vincenzo Tucci, Luigi Vertuccio, Liberata Guadagno, Salvatore Russo, Generoso Iannuzzo
  • Patent number: 10198943
    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: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ECONOLITE GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Raamot
  • Patent number: 10199845
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an internal battery, a first battery, and a second battery. The device further includes a first latch for locking the first battery and a second latch for locking the second battery. The device further includes a latch state detector for determining whether each of the first and second latches are open or closed, and a remaining battery power detector for detecting the remaining power in each of the first battery, the second battery, and the internal battery. The device further includes an LED and an LED controller for controlling the on-off of the LED. The LED controller operates as follows when the first or second latch is determined to be opened. If at least one of the first battery, the second battery, and the internal battery can supply electric power to the electronic device, the LED controller lights the LED in a first ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co,. Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Masaoka
  • Patent number: 10191457
    Abstract: A network- and/or client-side device configuration system facilitates automatic configuration of portable electronic devices. Predetermined configuration parameters for a particular portable electronic device are generated and stored. A computer-readable visual symbol such as an optical graphic code (for example, a tag, barcode, or matrix code) is generated by a network-side service and transmitted to an authorized user of the particular portable electronic device. The portable electronic device reproduces the visual symbol and transmits a message (which may or may not include the reproduced visual symbol) to the (same or different) network-side service. The network-side service authenticates the portable electronic device, and authorizes the portable electronic device to access and use the predetermined configuration parameters to automatically configure itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Padmanand Warrier
  • Patent number: 10189427
    Abstract: Disclosed are a vehicle and method of controlling a display therein. Herein, the vehicle supports auto driving. The present invention includes sensors, a display including a display area formed on a glass of the vehicle and a controller configured to cause the display to display data obtained via at least one of the sensors on the display area based on an operation mode of the vehicle and vehicle passenger information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hangtae Kim, Kyungdong Choi
  • Patent number: 10186138
    Abstract: An electronic device can output a priming cue prior to outputting an alert on the electronic device. A priming cue can be a haptic priming cue, a visual priming cue, an audio priming cue, or various combinations of these priming cues. The priming cue can be perceived by a user either consciously or subconsciously and can increase a user's perceptual state for the alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Hugo D. Verweij
  • Patent number: 10167717
    Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body either above or below ground, such as in a wellbore. The nodes allow for wireless communication between one or more sensors residing at the level of a subsurface formation or along a pipeline, and a receiver at the surface. The communications nodes employ electro-acoustic transducers that provide for node-to-node communication along the tubular body at high data transmission rates. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a tubular body and a specially configured network to accomplish a wireless transmission of data along the wellbore using acoustic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Mark M. Disko, Timothy I. Morrow, Max Deffenbaugh, Katie M. Walker, Scott W. Clawson, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10168670
    Abstract: An intelligent switching method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor of an intelligent switching device, detection data indicating that an individual is located within a specified proximity of an apparatus. The intelligent switching device is lockably attached to the apparatus. The computer processor receives a request from an individual for enabling the apparatus. The computer processor determines that the individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating the apparatus and generates an enable signal. The enable signal enables a power signal for the apparatus. The computer processor indicates that the apparatus has been enabled and is operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Nelson, Kevin H. Peters, Louis R. Ruggiero
  • Patent number: 10163328
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method for communicating emergency information from an aircraft in response to an emergency or technical problem detected by monitoring avionics data at an onboard autonomous aircraft SATCOM transceiver activation device, the emergency detection functioning to automatically activate and control an aircraft SATCOM transceiver which then (i) automatically triggers real-time tracking of the aircraft via satellite, (ii) provides aircraft positioning on broadcast distinctive signals and data in designated frequencies; and (iii) monitors, processes, and automatically communicates the avionics data in conformance with ICAO standards for GADSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: InFlight Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Bekanich