Patents by Inventor Gerard L. Cullen

Gerard L. Cullen 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: 20120013460
    Abstract: One example embodiment includes a system for remotely conveying a deleterious condition of a controlled environment. The system includes a sensor, where the sensor is configured to produce a signal which indicates a measured value of an environmental condition in a controlled environment. The system also includes a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine the value of the environmental condition and determine whether the value of the environmental condition exceeds predetermined boundaries. The system further includes an electronic circuit, where the electronic circuit is configured to transmit an alert message if the monitoring unit determines the value of the environmental condition exceeds the predetermined boundaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: Gerard L. Cullen
  • Patent number: 8090817
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a space external to the system is disclosed. The system includes a microprocessor, a memory coupled to the microprocessor, a sensor configured to detect at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and configured to generate a sensor signal derived from the at least one detected environmental parameter of the space and at least one port for communicating with a network. The memory includes instructions for processing the sensor signal derived from the at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and the memory including a web server application. The at least one port is responsive to the microprocessor. The web server application is configured to provide a webpage associated with the sensor signal via the at least one port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Fowler, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Patent number: 8024451
    Abstract: The application discloses an apparatus including at least one sensor configured to monitor environmental conditions ambient to rack mounted computer equipment and a housing configured for mounting to an equipment rack. The housing includes a processor responsive to the sensor, at least one network interface responsive to the processor and configured for communication with a distributed computing network, a web server configured to provide a web page associated with information derived from the sensor, an email module configured to send notification of events associated with the sensor, and a simple network management protocol module configured to communicate with computer equipment external to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Fowler, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Patent number: 8005944
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring a space and its contents over a network. The system can include an embedded Java microprocessor to provide processing and network connectivity capability, and sensors to detect physical parameters associated with the space. The sensors can generate one or more sensor signals representative of the detected physical parameters. An analog-to-digital converter can convert the sensor signals to a digital format and can provide corresponding digital signals to the microprocessor. The system further includes instructions for processing the sensor signals and corresponding digital signals. An alarm signal can be generated when any of the physical parameters exceeds a corresponding threshold value. The system of the present invention can have at least one input/output port for communicating with the network and one or more memory modules for storing system data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Fowler, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Patent number: 7960862
    Abstract: A method for high-reliability power switching may comprise: (a) transferring possession of a token to first control logic controlling a first triode for alternating current (TRIAC), the TRIAC operably coupled to a first power source; (b) applying a voltage to a gate of the first TRIAC according to the possession of the token; (c) detecting a violation of a power source parameter; (d) transferring possession of the token to second control logic controlling a second TRIAC, the second TRIAC operably coupled to a second power source; (e) removing the voltage from the gate of the first TRIAC; and (f) applying a voltage to a gate of the second TRIAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Geist Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Smith, Jason Cohen, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Publication number: 20100241838
    Abstract: A method for updating computing device firmware may comprise: (a) receiving a transmission of firmware update data; (b) writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition; and (c) writing the firmware update data to an active firmware partition. A system for updating computing device firmware comprising: (a) means for receiving a transmission of firmware update data; (b) means for writing the firmware update data to a firmware update data partition; and (c) means for writing the firmware update data to an active firmware partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Jason Cohen, Gerard L. Cullen, Pedro DeKeratry, Ron McCormack
  • Patent number: 7755347
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a current and/or voltage measurement device that allows a user to easily and safely determine current flow by clamping a semi-permanent wrap-around monitor around the power cable without modifying the cable may comprise a plurality of ring-mounted magnetic field sensors which sense magnetic fields produced by the electrical current in the conductors and analysis circuitry for calculating the current in those conductors based on the magnetic field values. In other embodiments, the measurement apparatus may include a plurality of electric field sensors in addition to or in place of the magnetic field sensors, which sense electric fields produced by the electrical current in the conductors which may be used to calculate the voltage in the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Geist Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard L. Cullen, Michael V. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100096933
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for high-reliability power switching. A method for high-reliability power switching may comprise: (a) transferring possession of a token to first control logic controlling a first triode for alternating current (TRIAC), the TRIAC operably coupled to a first power source; (b) applying a voltage to a gate of the first TRIAC according to the possession of the token; (c) detecting a violation of a power source parameter; (d) transferring possession of the token to second control logic controlling a second TRIAC, the second TRIAC operably coupled to a second power source; (e) removing the voltage from the gate of the first TRIAC; and (f) applying a voltage to a gate of the second TRIAC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Michael V. Smith, Jason Cohen, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Publication number: 20040160897
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring a space and its contents over a network. The system can include an embedded Java microprocessor to provide processing and network connectivity capability, and sensors to detect physical parameters associated with the space. The sensors can generate one or more sensor signals representative of the detected physical parameters. An analog-to-digital converter can convert the sensor signals to a digital format and can provide corresponding digital signals to the microprocessor. The system further includes instructions for processing the sensor signals and corresponding digital signals. An alarm signal can be generated when any of the physical parameters exceeds a corresponding threshold value. The system of the present invention can have at least one input/output port for communicating with the network and one or more memory modules for storing system data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: NETBOTZ, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Fowler, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Publication number: 20040163102
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a space external to the system is disclosed. The system includes a microprocessor, a memory coupled to the microprocessor, a sensor configured to detect at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and configured to generate a sensor signal derived from the at least one detected environmental parameter of the space and at least one port for communicating with a network. The memory includes instructions for processing the sensor signal derived from the at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and the memory including a web server application. The at least one port is responsive to the microprocessor. The web server application is configured to provide a webpage associated with the sensor signal via the at least one port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: NETBOTZ, INC.
    Inventors: John J. Fowler, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Patent number: 6714977
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring a space, and in particular, an enclosure, and its contents over a network. The system can include an microprocessor to provide processing and network connectivity capability, and sensors to detect physical parameters associated with the space. A converter can convert sensor signals to a digital format and provide the signals to the microprocessor. The system includes instructions for processing the signals. An alarm signal can be generated when any of the physical parameters exceeds a corresponding threshold value. The system of the present invention can have at least one port for communicating with the network and memory modules for storing system data. The system of this invention can have a network-based interface such as an HTML interface for providing programming instructions to the microprocessor and for receiving monitoring status and alarm information from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Netbotz, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Fowler, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Patent number: 6415205
    Abstract: A multiple sensing technology-based occupancy sensor. Ultrasonic and infrared sensors are used to produce first and second occupancy estimator signals that are combined using a fusion based detection algorithm to produce a combined estimator signal. The combined estimator is then used to switch electrical loads when the combined estimator signal is above a predetermined threshold. The result is an occupancy sensor that has a very high probability of occupancy detection and a low probability of false tripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Mytech Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Myron, Vadim A. Konradi, Bruce G. Williams, John J. Fowler, Timothy W. Woytek, Jonathan D. Williams, Gerard L. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5986357
    Abstract: A multiple sensing technology-based occupancy sensor. Ultrasonic and infrared sensors are used to produce first and second occupancy estimator signals that are combined using a fusion based detection algorithm to produce a combined estimator signal. The combined estimator is then used to switch electrical loads when the combined estimator signal is above a predetermined threshold. The result is an occupancy sensor that has a very high probability of occupancy detection and a low probability of false tripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mytech Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Myron, Vadim A. Konradi, Bruce G. Williams, John J. Fowler, Timothy W. Woytek, Jonathan D. Williams, Gerard L. Cullen