Patents by Inventor Dennis Zimmerman

Dennis 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: 6978476
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a device which may be attached to a cable ground block (62) such that the level and type for signal emitted through the upstream flow of the signal, from a residence or business (59), may be determined along with the location of the source of ingress of any such signals. The invention, further includes a device (10) to transmit a signal of predetermined frequency towards a residence, such the source of errant signal ingress may be determined. Further, a method of causing the transmission of the signal at a predetermined time, measurement of the signal and determination of the source of the ingress of the signal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Comsonics
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20050023848
    Abstract: A second class lever device provides additional mechanical advantage to pull the release handle in the fifth wheel hitch of a truck tractor and semi trailer combination. Such release handles can bind and become difficult to release due to misalignment between tractor and trailer, corrosion or lack of lubrication, etc. The present release lever includes an elongate fulcrum bar to bridge the gap between the tractor tires and the overlying side of the trailer, with a lever arm extending therefrom. A tension member extends from the lever arm, between the handle end and fulcrum end thereof. The lever arm telescopes for storage, with the fulcrum bar pivoting and sliding in its lever arm attachment to further facilitate compact storage. The tension member preferably comprises a chain, with a release handle engaging hook adjustably installed on the chain to adjust the effective length thereof as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventor: Dennis Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20030033609
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a device which may be attached to a cable ground block (62) such that the level and type for signal emitted through the upstream flow of the signal, from a residence or business (59), may be determined along with the location of the source of ingress of any such signals. The invention, further includes a device (10) to transmit a signal of predetermined frequency towards a residence, such the source of errant signal ingress may be determined. Further, a method of causing the transmission of the signal at a predetermined time, measurement of the signal and determination of the source of the ingress of the signal is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Dennis A Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20020158827
    Abstract: A method of using a compute in a hands free environment, including the use of a gyroscopic sensor, in association with a mouse driver, to manipulate a computer curser across a computer screen is provided. The method utilizes either voice recognition software, in association with a hierarchal command set, which allows simple commands for routine computer mouse functions, or a body mounted paddle or switch device which allows simple body movements to perform click and drag functions of a mouse. The invention is particularly useful in association with body mounted computers having head mounted screens, as the method overcomes the problems of selecting computer functions while away from a desk or laptop computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6445175
    Abstract: A remote, wireless electrical signal measurement device for measuring and adjusting a component in a communications system. The device includes a source device, a remote system and a base system. The device permits a technician wearing the remote system to control through verbal commands the measurement and adjustment of a source device operably attached to the base system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Comsonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Estep, Dennis Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20020079885
    Abstract: A remote, wireless electrical signal measurement device for measuring and adjusting a component in a communications system. The device includes a source device, a remote system and a base system. The device permits a technician wearing the remote system to control through verbal commands the measurement and adjustment of a source device operably attached to the base system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Randy Estep, Dennis Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6384591
    Abstract: An electrical signal measurement device comprises a system unit which is carried on the person of a technician by attachment to a belt, harness or the like and, in one embodiment, a headpiece incorporating a display, microphone and ear phone. The display, microphone and ear phone are linked to the system unit and supported by software, including a speech recognition system, running on a central processing unit (CPU) which is part of the system unit. In operation, the technician connects a probe to a test point in the cable system, and the technician operates the device by speaking into the microphone. The speech recognition system responds to the technician's spoken words to direct and navigate through a displayed user interface in order to operate the signal level meter measurement functions. Synthesized speech signals are generated to provide user feedback and messages. A signal introduced at the probe is sampled and digitized by the CPU and then formatted for display by the headpiece mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall S. Estep, Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6353313
    Abstract: A remote, wireless electrical signal measurement device for measuring and adjusting a component in a communications system. The device includes a source device, a remote system and a base system. The device permits a technician wearing the remote system to control through verbal commands the measurement and adjustment of a source device operably attached to the base system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Comsonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Estep, Dennis Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5777662
    Abstract: An RF ingress/egress management system is made up of three major components. (1) A headend monitoring receiver, that is frequency tunable from 5 to 50 MHz, is capable of decoding and reading a unique tone that is transmitted and enters a cable flaw and is returned to the headend via the upstream coaxial plant. (2) A mobile transceiver global positioning satellite (GPS) system receives RF egress in the 50 MHz to 1 GHz region and stamps a GPS coordinate and stores that information. Also, a 5 to to MHz transmitter modulated with GPS coordinates transmits sufficient power to enter the cable television system flaw and be received at the headend location via the headend monitor. (3) A computer software system quantifies the cable flaw at egress and ingress frequencies and assigns a coordinate and figure of merit so that a repair technician can expedite repair of the coaxial plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Comsonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5577067
    Abstract: A data acquisition and transceiver module is used to acquire data from diagnostic equipment, such as a portable sampling spectrum analyzer. This data is then transmitted to a slave transceiver and storage module where it is stored in memory. The slave transceiver and storage module is typically housed remotely from the diagnostic equipment in the telecommunications electronic equipment and serves as an archival resource for set-up and maintenance parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 4491968
    Abstract: A status monitor for coaxial cable networks is disclosed. The monitor is designed to be directly attached to an output port of an amplifier/repeater in the network and is used as an aid in trouble shooting faults in the network. The monitor comprises a detector (12 or 40) which generates a d.c. voltage indicative of the level of a pilot frequency signal on the network. This d.c. voltage is supplied to a plurality of voltage comparators (18, 20 and 22) which compare the d.c. voltage with different reference voltages in order to sense different fault conditions. If a fault condition is sensed, the outputs of the comparators are used by a tone selection logic (24) and an OR logic switch (26) to control a voltage controlled oscillator (28) to generate a modulating tone. A signal from a crystal controlled oscillator (32) or an IF output of the detector (40) is modulated by the tone produced by the voltage controlled oscillator and radiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: ComSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Shimp, Dennis A. Zimmerman