Patents by Inventor Erwin Holowick
Erwin Holowick 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: 20140043160Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for ensuring that a pass-by detector system is placed in “ready-to-alarm” mode when a subject carries a ferromagnetic threat, or an inanimate ferromagnetic object independent of a human subject passes within the physical zone designated for alarming to such a threat. A fail-safe alarm system consisting of dual detection systems solves the failure of motion-detection systems when confronted with non-heat producing ferromagnetic threat objects; and the failure of photo-beam detection systems when confronted with black, non-reflective clothing. Applications for the present invention include pre-MRI safety screening, as well as certain security protocols, such as banks, schools, prisons, and courthouses.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: Mednovus, Inc.Inventors: Erwin Holowick, R. Kemp Massengill
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Patent number: 7479871Abstract: A ferromagnetic threat warning system utilizing two or more radio frequency transmitters or transceivers. A remote transmitter or transceiver is attached to each ferromagnetic threat that may enter the area to be protected. A master receiver or transceiver is mounted at each door controlling entry into the area to be protected. Communication between any master unit and one or more remote units generates an alarm when one or more threat objects approaches within a preselected distance of any master unit. Approach of a threat object within the preselected distance from a door can be detected when the strength of a radio signal between the remote unit associated with the threat object and the master unit near the door reaches a predetermined level. Generation of an alarm can be initiated at either the affected remote unit or the affected master unit. Generation of an alarm at either the affected remote unit or the affected master unit can also result in generation of an alarm at the other of the two units.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2006Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: MedNovus, Inc.Inventor: Erwin Holowick
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Patent number: 7315257Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an AMR device adapted to couple to utility meters and detect an excess rate of product delivery and responsively generate an alert indicative of this excess rate. Advantageously, the alert is provided to a remote device to provide notice of an abnormal condition, such as a leak which could produce flooding, or customer exceeding an allowed delivery rate, such as during conservation periods.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Datamatic, Ltd.Inventors: Tim Patterson, Erwin Holowick, Kenneth J. Derry
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Publication number: 20070296576Abstract: A ferromagnetic threat warning system utilizing two or more radio frequency transmitters or transceivers. A remote transmitter or transceiver is attached to each ferromagnetic threat that may enter the area to be protected. A master receiver or transceiver is mounted at each door controlling entry into the area to be protected. Communication between any master unit and one or more remote units generates an alarm when one or more threat objects approaches within a preselected distance of any master unit. Approach of a threat object within the preselected distance from a door can be detected when the strength of a radio signal between the remote unit associated with the threat object and the master unit near the door reaches a predetermined level. Generation of an alarm can be initiated at either the affected remote unit or the affected master unit. Generation of an alarm at either the affected remote unit or the affected master unit can also result in generation of an alarm at the other of the two units.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: MedNovus, Inc.Inventor: Erwin Holowick
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Patent number: 7248181Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an AMR device and system adapted to couple to utility meters and operate under Part 15 of the FCC Rules. The device and system also includes a data profile module.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Datamatic, Inc.Inventors: Tim Patterson, Erwin Holowick, Kenneth J. Derry
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Publication number: 20070057786Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing entry of a ferromagnetic threat object into a no-entry zone of an MRI facility, by attaching a magnet to each threat object, and sensing movement of any such magnet within a pre-selected distance from the no-entry zone. An RFID tag and scanning antenna can be used to sense the presence of a threat object anywhere within the sensing range of the interrogation device, either separately or as an adjunct to the distance detection provided by the magnetic field source and sensor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2005Publication date: March 15, 2007Applicant: MedNovus, Inc.Inventors: Richard McClure, R. Massengill, Erwin Holowick
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Publication number: 20060158347Abstract: An automated meter reading (AMR) device adapted to be synchronized by a signal provided by a remote device. The AMR device may be synchronized to a standardized clock, such as the automatic clock provided by NIST out of Boulder Colo. USA on station WWVB. Advantageously, this external clock re-synchronizes the internal clock of the AMR device to compensate for clock drift, such as caused by differences in crystal oscillation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2005Publication date: July 20, 2006Inventors: Thomas Roche, Erwin Holowick
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Patent number: 7042368Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an AMR device and method of use having an optical transceiver adapted to read analog meter faces. The transceiver advantageously includes an optical receiver having an amplifier receiving signals from photodiodes and further including an automatic gain control. A gain of the optical receiver amplifier is programmable to compensate for parameters affecting the photodiodes in the optical receiver.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Datamatic, LtdInventors: Tim Patterson, Erwin Holowick, Kenneth J. Derry, Jason R. Pinkham
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Publication number: 20060028355Abstract: A AMR device adapted to couple to utility meters and detect an peak rate of product delivery and responsively generate a signal indicative of the peak rate of product delivery. This information is transmitted to a remote location, such as to a utility or to a municipality. This peak rate of delivery is time-stamped and can be determined each clock cycle to generate real-time information. Moreover, previous peak rate delivery information can also be stored for transmission, and associated with a time of delivery. This information is useful to help understand the maximum flow rates a particular metering device is subject to for equipment selection, as well as applications in the area of conservation enforcement.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: Tim Patterson, Erwin Holowick, Kenneth Derry
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Publication number: 20050225455Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an AMR device and system adapted to couple to utility meters and operate under Part 15 of the FCC Rules. The device and system also includes a data profile module.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2005Publication date: October 13, 2005Inventors: Tim Patterson, Erwin Holowick, Kenneth Derry
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Publication number: 20050110656Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an AMR device adapted to couple to utility meters and detect an excess rate of product delivery and responsively generate an alert indicative of this excess rate. Advantageously, the alert is provided to a remote device to provide notice of an abnormal condition, such as a leak which could produce flooding, or customer exceeding an allowed delivery rate, such as during conservation periods.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Inventors: Tim Patterson, Erwin Holowick, Kenneth Derry
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Publication number: 20050104744Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as an AMR device and method of use having an optical transceiver adapted to read analog meter faces. The transceiver advantageously includes an optical receiver having an amplifier receiving signals from photodiodes and further including an automatic gain control. A gain of the optical receiver amplifier is programmable to compensate for parameters affecting the photodiodes in the optical receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Tim Patterson, Erwin Holowick, Kenneth Derry, Jason Pinkham
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Patent number: 6798352Abstract: A radio frequency automated meter reading (AMR) device for determining quantities of a consumed utility product including electric, gas and water service. The present invention intermittently transmits utility product consumption as a modulated RF signal, and does not require complex polling and bi-directional communication. Data is obtained and formatted for transmission and is adapted to be received by a remote receiving device having an RF receiver. The present invention is adaptable to water meters, gas meters and electric meters, and has an IR programming module facilitating remote programming and diagnostic procedures. In the case of water and gas meters, an internal lithium battery provides an operational life of up to ten years. In the case of the electric meter, power is tapped directly from the electric service.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Datamatic, Inc.Inventor: Erwin Holowick
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Patent number: 6755148Abstract: The present invention provides a device, system, and method for detecting and measuring the bi-directional flow of a fluid through a fluid meter, such as a household or business water meter. In one device embodiment the invention comprises a logical switch collar (12) disposed over an analog fluid meter (14) having a sweep-hand (18) with a magnet (16) coupled thereto. In operation, the logical switch collar (12) consists of at least two magnetic switches that are triggered to open or close in response to the rotational movement of the sweep-hand (18) as fluid flows through a fluid meter (14) in both the forward and reverse directions. These switching events are detected and recording by an electronic module (19). Advantageously, the present invention accurately monitors and records fluid consumption at predetermined intervals when the fluid flows through the meter in either direction (14).Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Datamatic LtdInventor: Erwin Holowick
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Patent number: 6710721Abstract: A radio frequency automated meter reading (AMR) device for determining quantities of a consumed utility product including electric, gas and water service. The present invention intermittently transmits utility product consumption as a modulated RF signal, and does not require complex polling and bi-directional communication. Data is obtained and formatted for transmission and is adapted to be received by a remote receiving device having an RF receiver. The present invention is adaptable to water meters, gas meters and electric meters, and has an IR programming module facilitating remote programming and diagnostic procedures. In the case of water and gas meters, an internal lithium battery provides an operational life of up to ten years. In the case of the electric meter, power is tapped directly from the electric service.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1999Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Datamatic Inc.Inventor: Erwin Holowick
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Patent number: 6653945Abstract: A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the messages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from a previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Dennis F. Johnson, Michael Wiebe, Erwin Holowick, Nathan R. Jacob, Michael F. Murhpy, James J. Schellenberg, Michael S. Stasenski
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Publication number: 20030089298Abstract: The present invention provides a device, system, and method for detecting and measuring the bi-directional flow of a fluid through a fluid meter, such as a household or business water meter. In one device embodiment the invention comprises a logical switch collar (12) disposed over an analog fluid meter (14) having a sweep-hand (18) with a magnet (16) coupled thereto. In operation, the logical switch collar (12) consists of at least two magnetic switches that are triggered to open or close in response to the rotational movement of the sweep-hand (18) as fluid flows through a fluid meter (14) in both the forward and reverse directions. These switching events are detected and recording by an electronic module (19). Advantageously, the present invention accurately monitors and records fluid consumption at predetermined intervals when the fluid flows through the meter in either direction (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2001Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventor: Erwin Holowick
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Publication number: 20030001754Abstract: A wide area communications network communicating data from a plurality of network service modules through a plurality of remote cell nodes and intermediate data terminals to a central data terminal. The wide area communicates network collects network generated by a plurality of physical devices such as gas, water or electricity meters, located within a geographical area. The wide area communications network is a layered network have a hierarchical communications topology. The central data terminal controls network operation. Intelligence exists at all layers of the network, thereby easing the workload of the central data terminal. The intelligence attributed to each module is a function of the application of that module.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Dennis F. Johnson, Michael Wiebe, Erwin Holowick, Nathan R. Jacob, Michael F. Murphy, James J. Schellenberg, Michael S. Stasenski
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Publication number: 20020158774Abstract: A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the messages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from a previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Applicant: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Dennis F. Johnson, Michael Wiebe, Erwin Holowick, Nathan R. Jacob, Michael F. Murhpy, James J. Schellenberg, Michael S. Stasenski
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Patent number: 6373399Abstract: A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the messages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from a previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Dennis F. Johnson, Michael Wiebe, Erwin Holowick, Nathan R. Jacob, Michael F. Murphy, James J. Schellenberg, Michael S. Stasenski