Patents by Inventor Douglas E. DeVries

Douglas E. DeVries 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: 20220416530
    Abstract: Conventional GFCI-type technology typically relies solely on onsite control—for example, pushing a reset button physically located at the impacted circuit to clear a trip and resume operation. For simpler/lower voltage systems—such as outlets in a residence—this is not particularly labor-intensive or confusing. However, for large, complex, and/or high voltage systems—such as sports lighting systems with multiple circuits dozens of feet apart in locked enclosures—trying to perform the same task of pushing a reset button and clearing a trip is much more labor-intensive, and confusing not only in locating the impacted circuit, but in determining what happens next if pushing the reset button does not resume operation. Presented herein are remote control options for GFCIs which could be used in addition to, and not instead of, conventional GFCI-type functionality—or could provide remote-only reset function where a system has no onsite reset button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Myron Gordin, Douglas E. DeVries, Michael W. Walter
  • Patent number: 8957771
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices, systems and methods for thwarting attempts to circumvent breath alcohol level testing and monitoring programs. In-home monitoring systems as well as ignition interlock systems are described. Accelerometers and/or compasses are used to detect movement of the device. GPS and image data are collected at the time samples are collected to verify their authenticity. A system is provided for use by a third party service provider to provide reports and notification to monitoring authorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Arringdale, Michael W. Walter, Douglas E. DeVries
  • Publication number: 20150008063
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a breath alcohol test devices includes within the handheld unit containing a fuel cell, a miniaturized self calibrating test device thereby avoiding the need for 30, 60 and 90 day calibration testing. It also relates to various tamper or circumvention improvements that may be used alone or in combination with the self calibration improvement, including cameras to record a driver providing a breath sample and to verify the location of the driver within a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Michael W. Walter, Douglas E. Devries
  • Publication number: 20110309932
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices, systems and methods for thwarting attempts to circumvent breath alcohol level testing and monitoring programs. In-home monitoring systems as well as ignition interlock systems are described. Accelerometers and/or compasses are used to detect movement of the device. GPS and image data are collected at the time samples are collected to verify their authenticity. A system is provided for use by a third party service provider to provide reports and notification to monitoring authorities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Arringdale, Michael W. Walter, Douglas E. DeVries
  • Patent number: 7934577
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a breath alcohol test devices includes within the handheld unit containing a fuel cell, a miniaturized self calibrating test device thereby avoiding the need for 30, 60 and 90 day calibration testing. It also relates to various tamper or circumvention improvements that may be used alone or in combination with the self calibration improvement, including cameras to record a driver providing a breath sample and to verify the location of the driver within a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Walter, Douglas E. DeVries
  • Publication number: 20110084820
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a breath alcohol test devices includes within the handheld unit containing a fuel cell, a miniaturized self calibrating test device thereby avoiding the need for 30, 60 and 90 day calibration testing. It also relates to various tamper or circumvention improvements that may be used alone or in combination with the self calibration improvement, including cameras to record a driver providing a breath sample and to verify the location of the driver within a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Walter, Douglas E. DeVries
  • Publication number: 20100012417
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a breath alcohol test devices includes within the handheld unit containing a fuel cell, a miniaturized self calibrating test device thereby avoiding the need for 30, 60 and 90 day calibration testing. It also relates to various tamper or circumvention improvements that may be used alone or in combination with the self calibration improvement, including cameras to record a driver providing a breath sample and to verify the location of the driver within a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: MICHAEL W. WALTER, DOUGLAS E. DeVRIES
  • Patent number: 6871755
    Abstract: A storage, display and dispensing apparatus for tickets of various sizes that accounts for the tickets dispensed during a selected time period. The apparatus includes a bin housing for storing a pack of tickets, a ticket dispensing assembly through which the tickets are dispensed and includes a friction wheel assembly that is actuated as tickets pass through the ticket dispensing assembly. An optical sensing element is also employed to sense indicia on the tickets to coact with the friction wheel assembly to provide a ticket count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Schafer Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. DeVries, Trevor E. Meyer, Kevin A. Jankowski, Daniel J. Fahrion, Scott A. Bottorf
  • Publication number: 20040044437
    Abstract: A storage, display and dispensing apparatus for tickets of various sizes that accounts for the tickets dispensed during a selected time period. The apparatus includes a bin housing for storing a pack of tickets, a ticket dispensing assembly through which the tickets are dispensed and includes a friction wheel assembly that is actuated as tickets pass through the ticket dispensing assembly. An optical sensing element is also employed to sense indicia on the tickets to coact with the friction wheel assembly to provide a ticket count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Douglas E. DeVries, Trevor E. Meyer, Kevin A. Jankowski, Daniel J. Fahrion, Scott A. Bottorf
  • Patent number: 5612710
    Abstract: A large scale video display of the present invention is designed to receive a standard NTSC video signal and display it on a large scale array of low cost, voltage or current controlled lamp transducers. The video signals are received by a video capture device which receives and digitizes the video signal. A host processor formats the digital data into a number of 16 bit data words each corresponding to a pixel. A coprocessor receives the 16 bit data words and reformats the data. The reformatted data is connected to a large scale display by a fiber optic connection. The display includes a number of transceivers which receive the formatted video data in a memory buffer. The transceivers also receive a board map from the coprocessor. The map indicates which light boards correspond to each part of the memory where the frame image is stored. This information is used by a number of controllers to determine which lights to turn on and at what level of brightness for any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Fairtron Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Christensen, Jack L. Carter, Douglas E. DeVries, Alan S. Foster, Jacques Y. Foster, William G. Phelps, Timothy J. Prachar, Daniel W. Smith, Michael W. Walter
  • Patent number: 5426415
    Abstract: An improved breath analyzing apparatus for use in an automobile ignition locking system. A breath sample tube receives a breath sample from a user. The breath sample tube is divided into a high pressure section and a low pressure section by an air flow restrictor. A pressure sensor is connected to the high pressure section to determine when a user is blowing into the breath analyzing apparatus. A temperature sensor measures the temperature of the breath sample to insure that it is the same temperature as human breath. A micropump propels a specified volume of the breath sample into a fuel cell which is used to determine the alcohol content. Control means converts the output of the fuel cell into a reading which represents the breath alcohol content of the breath sample. Heating elements warm the fuel cell when the ambient temperature drops below a specified level. The output of the fuel cell is adjusted based on the time it takes the fuel cell to reach its maximum output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology
    Inventors: Timothy J. Prachar, Douglas E. DeVries, Michael W. Walter, Howard V. Block