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).

  • Publication number: 20240003950
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann, Christian Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11754607
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Publication number: 20230160941
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall, Donnie Bixler, Chonglin Liu
  • Patent number: 11552501
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall, Donnie Bixler, Chonglin Liu
  • Publication number: 20220163578
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 11249125
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Publication number: 20210288521
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall, Donnie Bixler, Chonglin Liu
  • Patent number: 10877180
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
  • Publication number: 20200209295
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 10641806
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 10613064
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: Earth Networks, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Elena Novakovskaia, Robert S. Marshall, Ray F. Weiss, Ralph Keeling, Lisa Welp-Smith
  • Publication number: 20190293701
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 10354345
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Michael Siemann, Steven Gabriel
  • Publication number: 20180321350
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Patent number: 10018701
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Publication number: 20180180770
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
  • Patent number: 9891345
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
  • Patent number: 9810811
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
  • Publication number: 20170205489
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Publication number: 20170206615
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Michael Siemann, Steven Gabriel