Patents by Inventor Christopher Dale Sloop
Christopher Dale Sloop 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).
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Publication number: 20240003950Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann, Christian Pedersen
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Patent number: 11754607Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Publication number: 20230160941Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for estimating an originating location of a power quality event in an electrical grid. Each of a plurality of sensor devices connected to the electrical grid detects an input signal generated by electrical activity on the electrical grid, generates an output signal based upon the detected input signal, and transmits power quality data to a computing device via a communications network, where the power quality data is based upon the output signal. The computing device is configured to analyze the power quality data from at least a subset of the sensor devices to determine a power quality event occurring in the electrical grid, estimate an originating location of the power quality event based upon the power quality data, and transmit a notification to one or more remote computing devices based upon the estimated originating location of the power quality event.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall, Donnie Bixler, Chonglin Liu
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Patent number: 11552501Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detection and notification of electrical power outages and power quality. A sensor coupled to a circuit transmits a keepalive packet to a server. The sensor detects an input signal generated by electrical activity. The sensor generates an output signal based upon the input signal. The sensor monitors the output signal. During a clock cycle, the sensor determines whether a rising edge occurred and transmits a fault packet to the server when the rising edge occurred prior to a predetermined clock value or when no rising edge occurred. The server receives the fault packet from the sensor and listens for keepalive packets. The server transmits a power outage notification when no keepalive packets are received for at least a defined time period after the fault packet is received. The server transmits a power restoration notification when one or more keepalive packets are subsequently received.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall, Donnie Bixler, Chonglin Liu
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Publication number: 20220163578Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2022Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Patent number: 11249125Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Publication number: 20210288521Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detection and notification of electrical power outages and power quality. A sensor coupled to a circuit transmits a keepalive packet to a server. The sensor detects an input signal generated by electrical activity. The sensor generates an output signal based upon the input signal. The sensor monitors the output signal. During a clock cycle, the sensor determines whether a rising edge occurred and transmits a fault packet to the server when the rising edge occurred prior to a predetermined clock value or when no rising edge occurred. The server receives the fault packet from the sensor and listens for keepalive packets. The server transmits a power outage notification when no keepalive packets are received for at least a defined time period after the fault packet is received. The server transmits a power restoration notification when one or more keepalive packets are subsequently received.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall, Donnie Bixler, Chonglin Liu
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Patent number: 10877180Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids, a rate of change of the dBR, and the geographical area of the lightning activity.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
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Publication number: 20200209295Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Patent number: 10641806Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Patent number: 10613064Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for measuring greenhouse gas. A calibration device receives a first sample of atmospheric gas from a first port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device receives a second sample of atmospheric gas from a second port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device routes the first sample and the second sample to a measurement device for greenhouse gas analysis. The measurement device determines a characteristic of a greenhouse gas present in at least one of the first sample and the second sample. The measurement device transmits data associated with the determined characteristic of the greenhouse gas to a computing device for determining sinks and sources of the gas.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignees: Earth Networks, Inc., The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Elena Novakovskaia, Robert S. Marshall, Ray F. Weiss, Ralph Keeling, Lisa Welp-Smith
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Publication number: 20190293701Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Patent number: 10354345Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for determining a load control schedule for energy control devices using a load shifting optimization model and applying the load control schedule to adjust the energy control devices. A server receives thermodynamic models, energy price data and energy load forecast data. The server generates price probability distribution curves based upon the price data and load probability distribution curves based upon the load forecast data. The server executes a load shifting optimization model to determine a profit probability distribution curve for demand response decision rules. The server determines a profit curve that has an optimal profit value. The server generates a load control schedule based upon the optimal profit curve and generates operational parameters for energy control devices using the load control schedule. The server transmits the operational parameters to the energy control devices to adjust operational parameters.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Michael Siemann, Steven Gabriel
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Publication number: 20180321350Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for remote sensing to derive a calibrated power measurement for a power distribution point. Magnetic field sensors of a sensor module sense a magnetic field emitted by the power distribution point. A first processor generates an uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor, the uncalibrated power measurement derived from the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor and a voltage carried by the power distribution point. A second processor determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to a known power load being drawn through the power distribution point. The second processor derives a transfer function using the response of each magnetic field sensor to the known power load. The second processor applies the transfer function to the uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor to generate the calibrated power measurement for the power distribution point.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Patent number: 10018701Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for identifying individual branch circuits coupled to a power distribution point. A sensor module positioned in proximity to the power distribution point and having a plurality of magnetic field sensors senses a magnetic field emitted by each of a plurality of branch circuits coupled to the power distribution point. A processor coupled to the sensor module determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to each of a plurality of changes in power associated with at least one of the plurality of branch circuits. The processor positions the responses of the magnetic field sensors to each change in power on a point in a multidimensional space, where each dimension of the multidimensional space corresponds to a magnetic field sensor. The processor identifies clusters of the points in the multidimensional space, each cluster representing a different branch circuit and having a different vector direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Publication number: 20180180770Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids, a rate of change of the dBR, and the geographical area of the lightning activity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
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Patent number: 9891345Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
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Patent number: 9810811Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for predicting the potential for severe weather. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity, where the data includes lightning flash data. The computing device identifies cells of lighting activity based upon the lightning flash data and determines a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of the cells of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device compares the determined lightning rate to a threshold lightning rate, where the threshold rate is set based upon atmospheric conditions in a location of the cells of lightning activity. The computing device determines one or more geographical areas at risk based on the location, the movement speed, and the movement direction of the cells of lightning activity, and issues an alert to remote devices when the lightning rate exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
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Publication number: 20170205489Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for identifying individual branch circuits coupled to a power distribution point. A sensor module positioned in proximity to the power distribution point and having a plurality of magnetic field sensors senses a magnetic field emitted by each of a plurality of branch circuits coupled to the power distribution point. A processor coupled to the sensor module determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to each of a plurality of changes in power associated with at least one of the plurality of branch circuits. The processor positions the responses of the magnetic field sensors to each change in power on a point in a multidimensional space, where each dimension of the multidimensional space corresponds to a magnetic field sensor. The processor identifies clusters of the points in the multidimensional space, each cluster representing a different branch circuit and having a different vector direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Publication number: 20170206615Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for determining a load control schedule for energy control devices using a load shifting optimization model and applying the load control schedule to adjust the energy control devices. A server receives thermodynamic models, energy price data and energy load forecast data. The server generates price probability distribution curves based upon the price data and load probability distribution curves based upon the load forecast data. The server executes a load shifting optimization model to determine a profit probability distribution curve for demand response decision rules. The server determines a profit curve that has an optimal profit value. The server generates a load control schedule based upon the optimal profit curve and generates operational parameters for energy control devices using the load control schedule. The server transmits the operational parameters to the energy control devices to adjust operational parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Michael Siemann, Steven Gabriel