Patents by Inventor Alan S. Broad

Alan S. Broad 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: 8149102
    Abstract: An interface is provided that configures itself dynamically based on sensor information received from a sensor assembly or actuator information received from an actuator assembly. The interface may be configured to interoperate with sensor assemblies including analog transducers, smart transducers providing digital outputs and various actuators. The sensor information or the actuator information may include information for managing power consumption associated with the operation of the sensor or the actuator. Using the sensor information or the actuator information, a power management scheme may be implemented to reduce power consumption and extend the operational time of a module. The sensor information also includes information about the sensor signal generated by the sensor. The information about the sensor signal allows the module to interoperate with more diverse types of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew Miller, Alan S. Broad
  • Patent number: 8144197
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network. Interactions of local processors in modules that sense an intrusion determine the location and path of movements of the intruding object and control cameras in the modules to retrieve video images of the intruding object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Alan S. Broad
  • Patent number: 8005108
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of physical properties sensed at the modules. A new module is joined in the adaptive network in an expedient manner. The new module transmits a burst of beacon messages after the interactive module is activated to discover neighboring interactive modules deployed and operating in the adaptive network. The neighboring interactive module stays in a sleep-mode of low-power expenditure. The beacon messages persist for a first interval longer than a second interval during which the neighboring interactive modules remain in the sleep mode. After receiving the beacon messages, one or more neighboring interactive modules transmit response messages to the new interactive module. The new interactive module receives the response messages and selects a neighboring interactive module for communication based on the received response messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan S Broad, Ning Xu
  • Patent number: 7978061
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Publication number: 20100157879
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: MEMSIC, INC.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 7705729
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: MEMSIC, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Publication number: 20100013933
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network. Interactions of local processors in modules that sense an intrusion determine the location and path of movements of the intruding object and control cameras in the modules to retrieve video images of the intruding object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Alan S. Broad
  • Patent number: 7554299
    Abstract: A battery-monitoring circuit detects rapid changes in current drawn from a battery by a device powered thereby. The circuit includes calibrating operating modes that determine voltage-to-frequency conversion parameters, and amplifier errors at various levels of battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan S. Broad
  • Patent number: 7369047
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of radio-frequency identification signals, and indicative of proximity sensing at the module. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing inventory, pricing and customer responses to transmit through the adaptive network signals representative of information to be displayed at selectively-addresses modules in response to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming an adaptive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 7176808
    Abstract: A method and system updates a network of sensors remotely through the use of a communication link. The sensors to be updated as well as data files to perform the updating are selected at a base station. The selected sensors are notified of the upcoming update by the base station and may accept or reject the update. The sensors that approve the update then receive data files through the communication link. The sensors notify the base station of any missing data files, which are then retransmitted to all sensors that may be missing data files from the first transmission. After the sensors receive all data files, the update is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Matt Miller, Michael A. Horton