Patents Examined by Travis Hunnings
  • Patent number: 10024960
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a driver assistance system (2) for a motor vehicle (1), in which a driver-specific blind spot (3) in the surroundings (4) of the motor vehicle (1) is determined, wherein at least one boundary edge (8, 9) of a driver-specific field of vision (5) of a motor vehicle driver is determined as a function of a movement behavior of the motor vehicle driver's head and/or as a function of the visual faculty of the motor vehicle driver, and the dimension (a2) and/or a local position of the driver-specific blind spot (3) in the surroundings (4) of the motor vehicle (1) is determined as a function of the determined boundary edge (8, 9) of the driver-specific field of vision (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Timo Brandt
  • Patent number: 10019904
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying high risk parking lots. High risk parking lots may be, for example, parking lots that pose a higher than average risk of collisions and/or theft. Auto insurance claim data may be analyzed to identify hazardous areas. A virtual navigation of roads within the hazardous area may be identified. Public parking lots within the virtual navigation map may be defined, with each public parking lot determined as either in a hazardous area or not. A vehicle may be determined to be approaching or parking in a parking lot in a hazardous area, and a nearby public parking lot not associated with the hazardous area may be selected instead. A route from a current position to the nearby public parking lot may be generated, and the vehicle may be routed to the nearby public parking lot. As a result, collisions and thefts may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Leo Nelson Chan, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Roxane Lyons, William J. Leise, John A. Nepomuceno, Rajiv C. Shah, Edward P. Matesevac, III, Jennifer Criswell Kellett, Steven C. Cielocha, Jeremy Myers, Matthew S. Megyese, Jennifer L. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10019878
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for tracking freight. Embodiments include a tracking device for a trailer containing a load. The tracking device includes a support member, a connector, a housing and a GPS tracker configured to track the location of the load. The connector securely attaches to a container on the trailer and attaches to a seal such that the container cannot be opened without breaking the seal. The support member stabilizes the housing and protects the tracking device during transit of the load. A tracking system may implement to monitor, gather information and report on the tracking device and the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Cross Road Centers, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald H. Mains, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10019892
    Abstract: A risk assessing and managing system for monitoring and managing one or more areas includes an obtaining module, a configuring module, a calculating module, and a managing module. The obtaining module obtains parameters of an area. The configuring module configures a weight coefficient and an evaluation class value to each of several monitoring terminals or sensors according to the parameters and influence proportion of each terminal. The calculating module calculates a weight value of each terminal according to the weight coefficients, and calculates a risk value of the area according to the weight values, the evaluation class values, and readings taken by the monitoring terminals. The managing module determines a risk class of the area according to the risk value and selects an improvement program to manage the area according to the risk class. A risk warning and managing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS (TIANJIN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shih-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 10017196
    Abstract: A communication system may wirelessly receive. A crossing controller may check the message to determine whether the message is a valid vital communication. In response to determining the message is the valid vital communication, the crossing controller may deactivate at least one crossing traffic control element. While the at least one crossing traffic control element is deactivated, the crossing controller may activate the at least one crossing traffic control element in response to receiving a command to activate the at least one crossing traffic control element at the communication system. In response to determining the message is not the valid vital communication, the crossing controller may activate the at least one crossing traffic control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Brian Joseph Hogan
  • Patent number: 10013858
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a garment that includes a receiver, configured to receive at least one coded command from a notification generator, and at least one haptic feedback generator that delivers haptic feedback to a user while wearing the garment during a transit, corresponding to the at least one coded command, where the notification generator is configured to determine a notification to be sent to the user in response to at least one event of interest determined by an input analyzer, and to generate the at least one coded command that indicates the notification, and where the input analyzer is configured to analyze input data corresponding to the transit of the user of the garment to identify the at least one event of interest, occurring during the transit of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Juliette Niebuhr Zerick, William Charles Cottrill, Eugene Henry Rascle, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10008079
    Abstract: A wristwatch-type notification apparatus that displays information by using indicating hands includes a display section that drives and rotates one or more of the plurality of indicating hands to notify a user of time information and a notification section that notifies the user of event information representing that a pre-specified condition is satisfied by moving, on the basis of a trigger produced in accordance with the event information, an indicating hand to a display position specified in accordance with the type of the event information associated with the trigger and causing the indicating hand to make reciprocating motion in the forward and reverse directions over a range including the display position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsutoyo Inoue
  • Patent number: 10008116
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 10001251
    Abstract: A portable lantern may include a body that extends from a bottom portion to a top portion, and a light source disposed on or within the body (e.g., within the bottom portion or top portion). The lantern may advantageously include motion detection capabilities included therein. As such, the lantern may further include one or more motion detectors disposed on or within the body. In an embodiment, 3 motion detectors are provided, and the body is generally triangular, with a motion detector positioned at each apex of the generally triangular body. The motion detectors may be operatively coupled to the light source and/or an alarm so that upon detection of motion within the vicinity of the lantern, either the light source illuminates (from an initially dark configuration), the alarm sounds, or both. A plurality of modes of operation may be provided, allowing the user to select a desired mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: MRP DESIGN ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew R. Plott
  • Patent number: 9997050
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a device code, a processor, a wireless protocol transceiver, a motion detector, an alarm and a state machine. The electronic device has a device code associated with an owner. The electronic device's wireless protocol transceiver establishes a communication link with another wireless protocol transceiver associated with the owner. The motion detector detects movement of the electronic device. The state machine, operated by the processor, may stay at a first state or advance to a second state based on signals received from the wireless protocol transceiver and the motion detector. The second state signifies a reminder condition and upon arriving at the second state, the alarm is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Gschwind, Valentina Salapura
  • Patent number: 9990834
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for personal tracking of hygiene compliance of a user. For example, a mobile device may host a tracking component (e.g., a personal hygiene compliance app deployed on a cell phone or tablet). The tracking component may be configured to establish a communication connection, such as a Bluetooth communication connect, with a hygiene device (e.g., a soap dispenser). The tracking component may generate either a hygiene compliance metric or a non-hygiene compliance metric based upon whether a dispense event notification, indicating compliance by the user with a hygiene opportunity, is received from the hygiene device. In this way, the user may personally track hygiene compliance information based upon automated communication signals shared between the mobile device and the hygiene device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Moore
  • Patent number: 9990848
    Abstract: Communications with an automobile are in the form of messages. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. Messages may contain a recall notice to the automobile, map information or advertising information concerning selected entities depending on the current location of the automobile. Messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain location of the automobile or dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Obradovich, Philip E. White
  • Patent number: 9981753
    Abstract: A composite normalized angle of attack indicating system provides a simultaneous display of both body angle of attack, such as in digital form, and normalized angle of attack for an aircraft. The display may be visually enhanced as stall is approached such as by zooming the body angle of attack digital display and/or by changing the color of the display. The normalized display also selectively displays an approach reference band when the flap setting is equal to or greater than 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey S. M. Hedrick, Shahram Askarpour
  • Patent number: 9978233
    Abstract: A security system includes a plurality of laser scanners to establish light shields in an area to be monitored, with each of the light shields including at least one detection zone, and a controller to detect unauthorized entry to the area to be monitored based on a position and timing of breaks in the detection zones of the light shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Comtrol Corporation
    Inventors: Nolan Kariniemi, Mark Pikkarainen
  • Patent number: 9959735
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for detecting harmful substances in the ambient air around a user, such as particulate matter and toxic gases, and communicating this information to the user and other interested parties. In certain areas, the ambient air in a city or area may sometimes contain harmful gases and/or particulates. People may be encouraged to wear and/or carry certain PPE devices, such as masks, to protect themselves from the harmful substances in the air. However, a user may not always know when they are breathing in a harmful substance and should be wearing a mask. Also, a method may comprise activating an alarm to user to when environment is polluted, and alerting the user when to wear the respiratory mask. Additionally, a system may provide information on where a user may be able to obtain a mask or other PPE, based on the detected harmful substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Swapnil Gopal Patil, Lakshma Reddy Dodda, Anjaiah Tumu, PhaniKumar Kagithapu, Veerender Sura
  • Patent number: 9954967
    Abstract: A method for uploading flight data into one or more avionics systems onboard an aircraft is provided. The method establishes a communication connection to one or more remote servers; downloads a set of flight data via the communication connection; transmits the set of flight data to a wireless access point storage device onboard the aircraft; receives wireless data transmissions comprising the set of flight data, wherein the wireless access point storage device is communicatively coupled to a data loader device, and wherein the data loader device is communicatively coupled to one or more avionics systems onboard the aircraft; extracts the set of flight data from the wireless access point storage device inserted into a storage device reader of the data loader device, wherein the extracting is performed by the data loader device; and transmits the set of flight data to the one or more avionics systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Laurentiu Mihai Gheorghe, Subbarao Venkata Rama Vemula, James Alexander Nicholls
  • Patent number: 9949895
    Abstract: A device can include an alert mechanism and a detection mechanism. The alert mechanism can activate an alert for a user to take a medication from a target medication receptacle. The detection mechanism can detect a tag associated with a medication receptacle. Actions may be performed based on a correlation between the detected tag and the target medication receptacle, such as deactivating the alert based at least in part on detecting the tag associated with the target medication receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NexPil Inc.
    Inventor: Syed Khalid
  • Patent number: 9949682
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining a target of alcohol test, including: determining whether a motor vehicle satisfies a preset condition; and determining, as a target vehicle, a motor vehicle that satisfies at least one preset condition. The preset condition comprises at least one of: a parking duration in an area, in which a distance from a place selling alcoholic drinks does not exceed a predetermined distance, has a value within a predetermined range; alcohol content in a body of a driver of the motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined value; and schedule of a driver of the motor vehicle on that driving day comprises having a meal and/or a dinner party. The present invention further provides a driving safety device, a server and a driving safety system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xuebo Zhang
  • Patent number: 9947200
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an individual in a dwelling so as to know when such individual falls or indicates the need of assistance. A plurality of 3D motion and sound sensors are located in the dwelling and provide data to a computerized monitoring system. The sensors are configured to recognize one or more biometric identifiers of the individual being monitored. When the monitoring system detects that the individual has fallen or gestured, a computerized communication system contacts the individual to determine the need to send assistance to help the individual. Where assistance is required the system automatics contacts the previously designated caregiver for the individual and can also contact emergency personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Kusens
  • Patent number: 9947186
    Abstract: A haptic feedback element controller for a mobile device and a method of controlling a haptic feedback element for a mobile device is described. The haptic feedback element includes a processor having a processor output, a first processor input, and a second processor input, a control state module having an output coupled to the second processor input and configured to determine at least one operating state parameter of at least one of a haptic feedback element and a haptic feedback element amplifier; wherein the processor is configured to alter the amplitude of one or more frequency components of an input signal received on the first processor input in dependence of the at least one operating state parameter and to output a processed signal to a haptic feedback element amplifier having an output for coupling to a haptic feedback element. The haptic feedback element controller may maximize the drive signal up to mechanical and thermal limits without lifetime reduction of the haptic feedback element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Christophe Marc Macours