Patents by Inventor Alan Millen

Alan Millen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12127086
    Abstract: A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Greer, David Galbraith, Pete Tasker, Philip Catherwood, Alan Millen, Paul McGrotty
  • Publication number: 20220225064
    Abstract: A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: John Greer, David Galbraith, Pete Tasker, Philip Catherwood, Alan Millen, Paul McGrotty
  • Publication number: 20200366520
    Abstract: A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Greer, David Galbraith, Pete Tasker, Philip Catherwood, Alan Millen, Paul McGrotty
  • Patent number: 10841127
    Abstract: A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Greer, David Galbraith, Pete Tasker, Philip Catherwood, Alan Millen, Paul McGrotty
  • Patent number: 9333814
    Abstract: Auto-location systems and methods of tire pressure monitoring sensor units arranged with a wheel of a vehicle detect a predetermined time (T1) when a wheel phase angle reaches angle of interest using a rim mounted or a tire mounted sensor. The systems and methods transmit a radio frequency message associated with a wheel phase angle indication. The wheel phase angle indication triggers wheel phase and/or speed data such as ABS data at the predetermined time (T1) to be stored. A correlation algorithm is executed to identify the specific location of a wheel based on the wheel phase and/or speed data at the predetermined time (T1). TPM sensor parameters from a tire pressure monitoring sensor unit are assigned to the specific location of the wheel based on a confidence interval width analysis of the ABS data at the predetermined (T1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Schrader Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Graham, Peter Walker, Alan Millen, Steven Baird, John Greer, James Coalter
  • Patent number: 9278590
    Abstract: A method for determining change of direction of a vehicle includes steps of maintaining a rolling window of ABS data indicative of ABS tooth count and capturing a relevant rolling window of ABS data at the predetermined one-measurement point; storing the rolling window of the ABS data indicative of ABS tooth in a buffer; monitoring the ABS data and detecting a valid stop event which causes the rate of change of ABS tooth count to substantially decrement to zero; and monitoring the ABS data and detecting a valid move event which causes the rate of change of ABS tooth count to substantially increment from zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Schrader Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward Friel, Gary Graham, Peter Walker, Alan Millen
  • Publication number: 20150057876
    Abstract: Auto-location systems and methods of tire pressure monitoring sensor units arranged with a wheel of a vehicle detect a predetermined time (T1) when a wheel phase angle reaches angle of interest using a rim mounted or a tire mounted sensor. The systems and methods transmit a radio frequency message associated with a wheel phase angle indication. The wheel phase angle indication triggers wheel phase and/or speed data such as ABS data at the predetermined time (T1) to be stored. A correlation algorithm is executed to identify the specific location of a wheel based on the wheel phase and/or speed data at the predetermined time (T1). TPM sensor parameters from a tire pressure monitoring sensor unit are assigned to the specific location of the wheel based on a confidence interval width analysis of the ABS data at the predetermined (T1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Gary Graham, Peter Walker, Alan Millen, Steven Baird, John Greer, James Coalter
  • Publication number: 20150057878
    Abstract: A method for determining change of direction of a vehicle includes steps of maintaining a rolling window of ABS data indicative of ABS tooth count and capturing a relevant rolling window of ABS data at the predetermined one-measurement point; storing the rolling window of the ABS data indicative of ABS tooth in a buffer; monitoring the ABS data and detecting a valid stop event which causes the rate of change of ABS tooth count to substantially decrement to zero; and monitoring the ABS data and detecting a valid move event which causes the rate of change of ABS tooth count to substantially increment from zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Schrader Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward Friel, Gary Graham, Peter Walker, Alan Millen