Patents by Inventor Dennis A. Zimmerman

Dennis A. Zimmerman 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: 9924390
    Abstract: Signal egress from a shielding flaw in a cable telecommunication system is detected, even where signals carried by the cable telecommunication system are quadrature amplitude modulated signals that statistically resemble broadband noise by generating a marker signal comprising a double side band, suppressed carrier signal in the fringes of contiguous frequency bands and at a power level which cannot cause perceptible interference with signals in those contiguous frequency bands. The separation of the sidebands comprising the marker signal can unambiguously identify the marker signal and can distinguish between different cable telecommunication systems installed in the same geographic area. The marker signal can be additionally coded by varying the frequency and/or amplitude of the modulating signal used to create the marker signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: COMSONICS, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Murphy, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9641263
    Abstract: An improved, adaptive and uniformly applicable estimation of the percentage or fraction of a broadband communication system (BCS) plant that is monitored for signal egress during a given period of time is provided by generating and collecting polygons along all possible routes traversed by BCS service vehicles within a service area, preferably by comparison with a roadway map, to define the service area with improved accuracy. The number of polygons generated and collected is then limited by the number of polygons in which DCS service vehicles have been reported in a given period of time or inspection interval. The limited number of polygons is then divided by the number of polygons generated and collected to determine a fraction or percentage of the BCS system which has been monitored during the given time period and can be used in a computation of a cumulative leakage index (CLI) value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Gregory Jones, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9491027
    Abstract: A small, portable signal generator provides a unique marker signal modulated with a selectable number of degrees of freedom for insertion into a portion of a broadband communication system (BCS) such as a subscriber installation site that may or may not be connected to the remainder of the BCS. If payload signals are not present or brief interference with payload signals is tolerable, a high level marker signal may be injected with level control upon detection of an egress signal to detect very minor leakage sources and thus increase quality of the qualification of installation or repairs. If payload signals are present, marker signals are held to non-interfering levels and frequencies. Authentication of a signal received through an antenna is expedited and increased in confidence level by synchronization of the marker signal modulation pattern and the signal detector in a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Murphy, Dennis A. Zimmerman, Richard L. Shimp, Marc-Yvon Comeau
  • Publication number: 20160173316
    Abstract: A small, portable signal generator provides a unique marker signal modulated with a selectable number of degrees of freedom for insertion into a portion of a broadband communication system (BCS) such as a subscriber installation site that may or may not be connected to the remainder of the BCS. If payload signals are not present or brief interference with payload signals is tolerable, a high level marker signal may be injected with level control upon detection of an egress signal to detect very minor leakage sources and thus increase quality of the qualification of installation or repairs. If payload signals are present, marker signals are held to non-interfering levels and frequencies. Authentication of a signal received through an antenna is expedited and increased in confidence level by synchronization of the marker signal modulation pattern and the signal detector in a receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: John J. Murphy, Dennis A. Zimmerman, Richard L. Shimp, Marc-Yvon Comeau
  • Patent number: 9091712
    Abstract: Signal ingress at an installations site forming a part of a broadband communication system is quantitatively evaluated for resistance to signal ingress using a computed ambient broadcast signal level based on a known location and effective radiated power of one or more transmitters. Anomalies due to signal path obstruction and/or multi-path reception are compensated by performing computations for a plurality of broadcast transmitters located in different directions from the installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Zimmerman, Joseph R. Early, Marc-Yvon Comeau
  • Patent number: 8868971
    Abstract: Results of field testing of portions of a distributed system such as a Broadband Communications System are communicated from a testing device to a device including a display which downloads test protocols to the testing device. The testing device can thereafter operate in a stand-alone manner and transfer the results of testing and analysis to a device including a display that may comprise virtually any wireless communication device by storing an application or information therein. The communication device can transfer captured test data and analysis to a central facility for storage, further analysis and/or management purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Comsonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140195176
    Abstract: An improved, adaptive and uniformly applicable estimation of the percentage or fraction of a broadband communication system (BCS) plant that is monitored for signal egress during a given period of time is provided by generating and collecting polygons along all possible routes traversed by DOS service vehicles within a service area, preferably by comparison with a roadway map, to define the service area with improved accuracy. The number of polygons generated and collected is then limited by the number of polygons in which DCS service vehicles have been reported in a given period of time or inspection interval. The limited number of polygons is then divided by the number of polygons generated and collected to determine a fraction or percentage of the BCS system which has been monitored during the given time period and can be used in a computation of a cumulative leakage index (CLI) value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: COMSONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Gregory Jones, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140177754
    Abstract: Signal egress from a shielding flaw in a cable telecommunication system is detected, even where signals carried by the cable telecommunication system are quadrature amplitude modulated signals that statistically resemble broadband noise by generating a marker signal comprising a double side band, suppressed carrier signal in the fringes of contiguous frequency bands and at a power level which cannot cause perceptible interference with signals in those contiguous frequency bands. The separation of the sidebands comprising the marker signal can unambiguously identify the marker signal and can distinguish between different cable telecommunication systems installed in the same geographic area. The marker signal can be additionally coded by varying the frequency and/or amplitude of the modulating signal used to create the marker signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Murphy, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8749248
    Abstract: Signal egress from a shielding flaw in a cable telecommunication system is detected, even where signals carried by the cable telecommunication system are quadrature amplitude modulated signals that statistically resemble broadband noise by generating a marker signal comprising a double side band, suppressed carrier signal in the fringes of contiguous frequency bands and at a power level which cannot cause perceptible interference with signals in those contiguous frequency bands. The separation of the sidebands comprising the marker signal can unambiguously identify the marker signal and can distinguish between different cable telecommunication systems installed in the same geographic area. The marker signal can be additionally coded by varying the frequency and/or amplitude of the modulating signal used to create the marker signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ConSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Murphy, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20130110466
    Abstract: Signal ingress at an installations site forming a part of a broadband communication system is quantitatively evaluated for resistance to signal ingress using a computed ambient broadcast signal level based on a known location and effective radiated power of one or more transmitters. Anomalies due to signal path obstruction and/or multi-path reception are compensated by performing computations for a plurality of broadcast transmitters located in different directions from the installation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Dennis A. Zimmerman, Joseph R. Early, Marc-Yvon Comeau
  • Publication number: 20120257661
    Abstract: Signal egress from a shielding flaw in a cable telecommunication system is detected, even where signals carried by the cable telecommunication system are quadrature amplitude modulated signals that statistically resemble broadband noise by generating a marker signal comprising a double side band, suppressed carrier signal in the fringes of contiguous frequency bands and at a power level which cannot cause perceptible interference with signals in those contiguous frequency bands. The separation of the sidebands comprising the marker signal can unambiguously identify the marker signal and can distinguish between different cable telecommunication systems installed in the same geographic area. The marker signal can be additionally coded by varying the frequency and/or amplitude of the modulating signal used to create the marker signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: John J. Murphy, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8143900
    Abstract: Detecting ingress of a transmitted signal into a cable communication system due to a radio frequency signal transmitted from a moving vehicle and interrogation of transmitter location over a separate wireless link provides monitoring of shielding integrity or flaws there in a cable communication system. The location of a shielding flaw may then be precisely located in a closed loop fashion without risking overload of the cable communication system or interference with upstream signaling therein by detecting ingress signal strength and controlling transmitted signal strength while providing a user-perceptible indication of ingress signal strength which is compensated for the control of transmitted signal strength and thus indicates proximity of a hand-held instrument or transmitter to said shielding flaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Comsonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Shimp, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20120042213
    Abstract: Results of field testing of portions of a distributed system such as a Broadband Communications System are communicated from a testing device to a device including a display which downloads test protocols to the testing device. The testing device can thereafter operate in a stand-alone manner and transfer the results of testing and analysis to a device including a display that may comprise virtually any wireless communication device by storing an application or information therein. The communication device can transfer captured test data and analysis to a central facility for storage, further analysis and/or management purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8112669
    Abstract: Results of field testing of portions of a distributed system such as a Broadband Communications System from a testing device to a controller which downloads programmed test protocols and sequences thereof to the separate testing device over a wired or wireless link and thereafter can be used to control the testing device as well as display test results and provide analysis of the test results and suggest procedures to technical personnel. The controller then can transmit the test data to a central facility or distribution hub in substantially real-time together with work performance data where full technical analysis can be performed. The test data and results of analysis can then be distributed as desired such as to a management analysis facility to support improvement of efficiency of the system and the operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20110085456
    Abstract: Notification of a detected potential egress signal from a Broadband Communications System (BCS) is expedited by detection of signal Strength at a mobile detector which is above a user-specified threshold. When a potential egress signal having a strength above a user-specified threshold is detected, it is reported with other, lesser strength egress signals, immediately over a wireless link to a central server which is dedicated to a given BCS or which provides a notification service to a plurality of such systems. The central server may provide additional processing such as for authenticating a detected signal as an egress signal and/or estimating egress signal strength at a shielding flaw and, responsive to a detected signal having a signal strength above the user-specified threshold, sending notifications of the signal egress detection or shielding flaw a user-specified number of times at user-specified intervals while the signal egress persists or until earlier terminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20110055632
    Abstract: Results of field testing of portions of a distributed system such as a Broadband Communications System from a testing device to a controller which downloads programmed test protocols and sequences thereof to the separate testing device over a wired or wireless link and thereafter can be used to control the testing device as well as display test results and provide analysis of the test results and suggest procedures to technical personnel. The controller then can transmit the test data to a central facility or distribution hub in substantially real-time together with work performance data where full technical analysis can be performed. The test data and results of analysis can then be distributed as desired such as to a management analysis facility to support improvement of efficiency of the system and the operation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20100026310
    Abstract: Detecting ingress of a transmitted signal into a cable communication system due to a radio frequency signal transmitted from a moving vehicle and interrogation of transmitter location over a separate wireless link provides monitoring of shielding integrity or flaws there in a cable communication system. The location of a shielding flaw may then be precisely located in a closed loop fashion without risking overload of the cable communication system or interference with upstream signaling therein by detecting ingress signal strength and controlling transmitted signal strength while providing a user-perceptible indication of ingress signal strength which is compensated for the control of transmitted signal strength and thus indicates proximity of a hand-held instrument or transmitter to said shielding flaw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Richard L. Shimp, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20070105852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thiophene and furan compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and further relates to their use in treating schizophrenia, cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, dementia of the Alzheimer's type, mild cognitive impairment, or depression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Ana Castano Mansanet, Esteban Dominguez-Manzanares, Ana Escribano, Maria Fernandez, William Hornback, Alma Jimenez-Aguado, Eric Tromiczak, Zhipei Wu, Hamideh Zarrinmayeh, Dennis Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20070066573
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pyrrole and pyrazole compounds of formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and further relates to their use in treating schizophrenia, cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, dementia of the Alzheimer's type, mild cognitive impairment, or depression. The compounds act as potentiators on glutamate receptors, in particular AMPA and the GluR family.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Pamela Albaugh, Esteban Dominguez-Manzanares, Jian Hong, William Hornback, Delu Jiang, Paul Ornstein, Michelle Thompson, Eric Tromiczak, Zhipei Wu, Hamideh Zarrinmayeh, Dennis Zimmerman, Ana Castano Mansanet, Larry Huffman, William Miller
  • Publication number: 20060030599
    Abstract: Glutamate receptor function in a mammal may be potentiated using an effective amount of a compound of formula R1-L-NHSO2R2??I in which R1 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group; R2 represents (1-6C)alkyl, (3-6C)cycloalkyl, (1-6C)fluoroalkyl, (1-6C) chloroalkyl, (2-6C)alkenyl, (1-4C)alkoxy(1-4C)alkyl, phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, (1-4C)alkyl or (1-4C)alkoxy, or a group, of formula R3R4N in which R3 and R4 each independently represents (1-4C)alkyl or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form an azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholino, piperazinyl, hexahydroazepinyl or octahydroazocinyl group; and L represents a (2-4C)alkylene chain which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two substituents selected independently from (1-6C)alkyl, aryl(1-6C)alkyl, (2-6C)alkenyl, aryl(2-6C)alkenyl and aryl, or by two substituents which, together with the carbon atom or carbon atoms to which they are attached form a (3-8C)
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Macklin Arnold, Stephen Baker, Thomas Bleisch, Buddy Cantrell, Ana Escribano, Ken Matsumoto, Tracey Mckennon, Paul Ornstein, Richard Simon, Edward Smith, Hamideh Zarrinmayeh, Dennis Zimmerman