Patents by Inventor Alan R. Owens

Alan R. Owens 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: 7479890
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method of operation for evaluating body activity relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a processor that is associable with a sensor for sensing dynamic and static accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor is operable to process the sensed dynamic and static accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic and an environmental representation to thereby determine whether the evaluated body activity is within environmental tolerance. The processor operates to monitor both activity and inactivity relative to the environmental representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck, Alan R. Owens, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 7145461
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method of operation for evaluating body activity relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a processor that is associable with a sensor for sensing dynamic and static accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor is operable to process the sensed dynamic and static accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic and an environmental representation to thereby determine whether the evaluated body activity is within environmental tolerance. The processor operates to monitor both activity and inactivity relative to the environmental representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck, Alan R. Owens, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 6947565
    Abstract: Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Patent number: 6864796
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a communication device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 6734802
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in physiological condition monitors that use a memory data storage device that operates in a high power mode when data is being written to the memory data storage device and operates in a low power mode when inactive. The apparatus comprises: 1) a controller for receiving incoming data to be written to the memory data storage device; and 2) a first low power buffer coupled to the controller. The controller stores the incoming data in the first low power buffer until a predetermined amount of incoming data has been accumulated in the first low power buffer and transfers the accumulated predetermined amount of incoming data to the memory data storage device in a single data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Patent number: 6661347
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a position locator device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Publication number: 20030146844
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a communication device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Publication number: 20030088160
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in physiological condition monitors that use a memory data storage device that operates in a high power mode when data is being written to the memory data storage device and operates in a low power mode when inactive. The apparatus comprises: 1) a controller for receiving incoming data to be written to the memory data storage device; and 2) a first low power buffer coupled to the controller. The controller stores the incoming data in the first low power buffer until a predetermined amount of incoming data has been accumulated in the first low power buffer and transfers the accumulated predetermined amount of incoming data to the memory data storage device in a single data transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Publication number: 20030072458
    Abstract: Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Patent number: 6501386
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a communication device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: iLife Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Publication number: 20020118121
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method of operation for evaluating body activity relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a processor that is associable with a sensor for sensing dynamic and static accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor is operable to process the sensed dynamic and static accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic and an environmental representation to thereby determine whether the evaluated body activity is within environmental tolerance. The processor operates to monitor both activity and inactivity relative to the environmental representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: iLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck, Alan R. Owens, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 6415033
    Abstract: Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: iLife Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Patent number: 6377185
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in physiological condition monitors that use a memory data storage device that operates in a high power mode when data is being written to the memory data storage device and operates in a low power mode when inactive. The apparatus comprises: 1) a controller for receiving incoming data to be written to the memory data storage device; and 2) a first low power buffer coupled to the controller. The controller stores the incoming data in the first low power buffer until a predetermined amount of incoming data has been accumulated in the first low power buffer and transfers the accumulated predetermined amount of incoming data to the memory data storage device in a single data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: iLife Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Publication number: 20010048368
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a position locator device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 6307481
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, that evaluate movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: iLife Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Michael E. Halleck, Alan R. Owens
  • Publication number: 20010000431
    Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a communication device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: April 26, 2001
    Applicant: iLIFE SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens, Michael E. Halleck, Edward L. Massman
  • Patent number: 6147618
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in physiological condition monitors that use a memory data storage device that operates in a high power mode when data is being written to the memory data storage device and operates in a low power mode when inactive. The apparatus comprises: 1) a controller for receiving incoming data to be written to the memory data storage device; and 2) a first low power buffer coupled to the controller. The controller stores the incoming data in the first low power buffer until a predetermined amount of incoming data has been accumulated in the first low power buffer and transfers the accumulated predetermined amount of incoming data to the memory data storage device in a single data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: iLife Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Halleck, Michael D. Halleck, Michael L. Lehrman, Alan R. Owens
  • Patent number: 5951932
    Abstract: A method of producing lyocell fibers by spinning a solution of cellulose in an organic solvent through an air gap and into a spin bath in which there is provided a cross-draught of air in the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Acordis Fibres (Holdings) Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Arthur White, Malcolm John Hayhurst, Alan R Owens, Ian David Roughsedge, Richard James Davies, Alan Sellars, Jacqueline Fave MacDonald, Michael Colin Quigley, Ralph Draper, Ronald Derek Payne
  • Patent number: 5939000
    Abstract: A method of producing lyocell fibres by spinning a solution of cellulose in an organic solvent through an air gap and into a spin bath in which there is provided a cross-draught of air in the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Acordis Fibres (Holdings) Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Arthur White, Malcolm John Hayhurst, Alan R Owens, Ian David Roughsedge, Richard James Davies, Alan Sellars, Jacqueline Faye MacDonald, Michael Colin Quigley, Ralph Draper, Ronald Derek Payne
  • Patent number: RE35987
    Abstract: Pulse compensation is disclosed for electronic devices capable of producing a pulse output signal suitable for therapeutic purposes with pulse compensation being automatically provided upon sensing of a change in she conditions being monitored. The electronic device, which preferably includes a microcomputer, has externally accessible pulse width and intensity controls for determining the width and amplitude of pulses then being delivered. Upon each sensing of a change in a monitored condition capable of causing user discomfort or possible injury, the intensity of the pulses then being delivered is quickly reduced and then gradually increased toward the full intensity requested by the intensity control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Staodyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank W. Harris, Alan R. Owens