Patents Examined by Thomas McCormack
  • Patent number: 9975521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hands-free system (SYS) for accessing a motor vehicle (V). Said system includes: a control member (COM) arranged in the motor vehicle (V); a detection member (CAPT) arranged in a door handle (P) of the motor vehicle (V), said detecting member being connected to said control member (COM) and capable of measuring a signal (S) representing a hand (M) approaching; and a sensitivity level (SEN) for which a corresponding threshold value (TH) is defined. Said control member (COM) is capable of sending a hands-free query to the motor vehicle (V) when the measured signal (S) exceeds the threshold value (TH) corresponding to the sensitivity level (SEN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO COMFORT AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE
    Inventors: Eric Menard, Ciprian Musat, Eric Leconte
  • Patent number: 9947198
    Abstract: The present solution provides a system and a method for efficiently transmitting data recorded by a wearable sensor. More particularly, the systems and methods described herein enable the data/context-aware transmission of data. In some implementations, by classifying data into predefined categories and then transmitting the data using a transmitter configuration associated with each of the categories enables improved transmission reliability while also improving battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Everyfit, Inc.
    Inventor: Fahd Khalaf Albinali
  • Patent number: 9875645
    Abstract: A method for sensory alert notification comprises retrieving an uncharacterized event record associated with a first user and a second user. The method comprises characterizing the uncharacterized event record by assigning a value to the uncharacterized event record based on an event impact value that characterizes an impact of the uncharacterized event record, a first user identifier, and a second user identifier. The method comprises generating a notification record comprising the characterized event record and a notification urgency value and generating a sensory alert notification, comprising one or more of a repeat and intensity rate of vibrating pulses, a repeat and a pitch rate of beeps of sound, and a repeat rate and a color of blinks of light, based on the notification record. The method further comprises transmitting the sensory alert notification to a mobile computing device of the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
    Inventor: Michal Knas
  • Patent number: 9855894
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for processing sensor data in a vehicle, where one or more sensors are configured to provide sensor data relating to at least one of a vehicle operating characteristic and/or a driving environment. A processing apparatus is configured to receive data from the one or more sensors. A display is configured to display a scene comprising one or more images associated with the sensor data, wherein the processing apparatus includes a probability processing module configured to process the sensor data to calculate a sensor confidence value representing an estimated accuracy for at least one of the one or more sensors, and wherein the processing apparatus includes a graphics processing module configured to process the sensor confidence value to modify the scene on the display to represent the estimated accuracy for the at least one or more of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Audi AG, Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Allen Khorasani
  • Patent number: 9833093
    Abstract: A drinking consumption inspection apparatus, including: a plurality of compartments; a plurality of cups, each being associated to a different and only to one person, and to a different and only one of the compartments, for inserting the cup thereinto; a weight for each of the compartments, for weighing the cup thereof, upon the insertion; and a controller, for accumulating decrease of sequential weights provided by said weights, for each cup separately, over time, thereby the drinking consumption inspection apparatus records drinking quantity of each of the cups, for inspecting that each person drinks sufficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Shay Pinhasov
  • Patent number: 9836083
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete wearable ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and interactive wearable device ecosystem. The wearable device ecosystem may comprise a number of wearable devices. Each wearable device may comprise a body and a shell. Any number of different shells may be interconnected interchangeably to the body. In one embodiment, the shell is decorative. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete wearable ecosystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 9832546
    Abstract: This monitoring system for photovoltaic power generation includes: a first to n-th power collecting systems each for supplying a power conditioner with collected outputs from plural photovoltaic panels via a connection box; slave devices provided for connection boxes respectively belonging to the first to n-th power collecting systems, each slave device collecting measurement information about power generation and transmitting the collected measurement information by use of a direct current electrical path of the power collecting system thereof; a master device provided at a power collection end on an inlet side of the power conditioner to obtain the measurement information; a system selection unit for selecting one power collecting system upon reception of a selection signal from the master device and causing power line communication to be performed by use of a direct current electrical path of the selected power collecting system; and a monitoring device connected to the master device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Asao, Takefumi Shimoguchi, Tomohisa Matsushita, Tetsuo Goto
  • Patent number: 9824841
    Abstract: A cable pull switch includes a polychotomous sensor configured to provide a reading of at least one of a plurality of values, the reading corresponding to a tension on a pull cable or a linear displacement of an end of a pull cable. A processing device is configured to receive the reading, determine whether a value of the reading is outside of a non-tripped value window, a limit edge being a pull threshold value, and responsively generate an output signal indicative of a cable pull event. Other features and improvements are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L Tsang, Burt Sacherski, Steven Robert Tambeau, Arvind Ananthanarayanan, James Edward Dogul, Todd Bubar
  • Patent number: 9818302
    Abstract: Vehicle management systems and associated processes can monitor the progress of assets, such as vehicle, along predetermined routes and report the progress to user. The system can compare the actual status of the vehicle to the expected status of the vehicle and to report any difference between the actual status and expected status to a user. Further, the system can receive a predetermined threshold value of the difference from a user and report to the user if the predetermined threshold has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Telogis, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean McCormick, Jason Koch, Arthur N. Morris, Ralph Mason, William Elliot
  • Patent number: 9811991
    Abstract: A product for detecting people approaching an isolated user, discouraging the detected people from disturbing the user, and for taking messages from the approaching people. The product may be embodied in noise-canceling headphones that the user is wearing, for example. The product can include a camera and a microphone that can detect approaching people. The product can also include an externally-facing speaker that can play an audio message to the approaching person to attempt to discourage the person from disturbing the user. The product can also prompt the person to leave a message for the user and then record the subsequent message. The user can review the message at a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Davide Di Censo, Stefan Marti, Ajay Juneja
  • Patent number: 9803471
    Abstract: A subsea system comprises a multiplicity of subsea installations (M-1 . . . M-n) and a common transmission line (2a) in an umbilical for the conveyance of power or data communication electrical signals to the subsea installations. The system provides on the common transmission line a plurality of safety signals (T-1 . . . T-n) in the form of tones separate in frequency from each other and the other signals on the line. Each subsea installation is arranged to receive from the common transmission line selectively a respective one of the safety signals for the control of a fail-safe device (9) in the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Baxter, Robin Slater
  • Patent number: 9800731
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a participant providing audible information during a communication session are disclosed. More particularly, speech localization is utilized to determine a location of the participant providing audible information. An identification device determined to be at a location corresponding to the location of the participant providing audible information is identified. The identity of the participant providing the audible information is then obtained by mapping the identification device to the participant. The information identifying the participant providing audible information can be provided to other endpoints of the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Roller Michaelis, David S. Mohler
  • Patent number: 9792470
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader configured to detect radio frequency (RF) interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation. The RFID reader includes a receive channel for receiving incoming RF signals; and hardware for detecting interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation. A method for mitigating radio frequency (RF) interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation, according to one embodiment, includes detecting interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation; and controlling an aspect of operation of the RFID reader for mitigating the detected interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZEST LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Dean Kawaguchi, Edward M. Farrell, Prasad Panchalan, Manu H. R. Rao
  • Patent number: 9775396
    Abstract: A head guard is provided. The head guard includes one or more sensors as part of an sensory input and communications system. The head guard wirelessly communicates data to remote computing devices for intelligent data collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: 2nd Skull, Inc.
    Inventor: Federico Olivares Velasco
  • Patent number: 9771792
    Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM) telemetry method comprises encoding downhole data into a single data stream; separating the single data stream into a plurality of separate data streams; converting each separate data stream into a corresponding separate waveform using a selected digital modulation technique wherein at least one of the frequency and phase of each waveform is assigned a unique value or unique non-overlapping range of values; combining each separate waveform into a combined waveform; and transmitting from a downhole location, an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry carrier wave comprising the combined waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Mingdong Xu, Jili Liu, David A. Switzer, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 9758050
    Abstract: An SOC display displayed on a display includes a first region and a second region. The first region presents an SOC range capable of ensuring the minimum traveling performance. The SOC display displays an SOC within the first region. The second region presents an SOC range incapable of ensuring the minimum traveling performance. The boundary between the first region and the second region corresponds to an SOC lower limit value indicating the SOC lower limit capable of ensuring the minimum traveling performance. The SOC lower limit value is set based on the temperature of a power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Itaru Seta
  • Patent number: 9747779
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for facilitating hand hygiene compliance are provided including a device for dispensing hygiene maintenance material that also monitors a detection zone to determine if an individual is present. A hygiene facilitation system is also provided comprising a retrofittable hygiene facilitation device that can be mounted on, or collocated with, conventional hygiene devices. The devices, systems, and methods hereof provide alerts and, optionally, tracking of use of the dispensing device and the relation of that use compared to a desired use profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Harkap Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Howard B. Harris, Michael A. Kaplan, Todd P. Fricke
  • Patent number: 9745077
    Abstract: A method of displaying a plurality of notifications issued on board an aircraft may include receiving the plurality of notifications from a plurality of applications operating on board the aircraft and displaying the plurality of notifications collectively on a single user interface. The single user interface may be configured to permit an aircraft crew member to select at least one notification from the plurality of notifications and display a description of the at least one notification selected by the aircraft crew member. The description may include at least one action to be performed by the aircraft crew member in response to the at least one notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Lentz, Fraser R. Chisholm
  • Patent number: 9739141
    Abstract: Disclosed is a data transmission system and a method for transmission of downhole measurement data to the ground. The system includes a drill string mounted with a logging while drilling measurement tool, and a throw while drilling section, which accommodates a micromemory. The throw while drilling section includes a housing which is mounted outside of the drill string as a sleeve to form a clearance space therebetween; a control circuit; and a wireless transceiver. The throw while drilling section releases, under function of a micromemory release instruction transmitted by the control circuit, the micromemory loaded with the downhole measurement data to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, SINOPEC RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
    Inventors: Yijin Zeng, Wei Zhang, Jibo Li, Weining Ni, Huangsheng Lu, Sanguo Li, Dawei Deng, Zuyang Zhu, Yiting Zheng, Xin Li, Yongjie Li
  • Patent number: 9736642
    Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, device, and storage medium including one or more of the following: receiving location information and expiration information; determining a current location of the mobile device; determining that the medicament device is within a predetermined distance from the mobile device; determining that the medicament device is currently associated with an expiration event; outputting an expiration alarm indicating the expiration event in response to determining that the medicament device is within a predetermined distance from the mobile device and that the medicament device is currently associated with an expiration event; receiving, from the user, a request to display a map of a geographic area; displaying, by the mobile device and via a non-operating system application, the map of the geographic area; and displaying an alert icon on the map, wherein the location of the icon on the map is based on the received location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Mylan Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Ostrander, John Denny