Patents by Inventor Howard Needham

Howard Needham 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: 11933075
    Abstract: An electronic key may include a partial capacitor comprising a capacitive metal plate in communication with a processor. The capacitive metal plate of the partial capacitor is configured to form a capacitor with a corresponding capacitive metal plate of a lock when brought into proximity with the metal plate of the lock. Data may be transferred from the key to the lock using a capacitor formed by combining the two metal plates, wherein a common ground is established between the metal plate of the key and the metal plate of the lock through a parasitic capacitance present between the key and lock circuitry. Audit trail data may be recorded based on usage of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KNOX Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan E. Pavlovic, Tamara Hatzinger, Dominik Scheffler, Howard Needham, Jason Pedersen, John Kowalski, Timothy Sherack, William James
  • Publication number: 20230287709
    Abstract: An electronic key may include a partial capacitor comprising a capacitive metal plate in communication with a processor. The capacitive metal plate of the partial capacitor is configured to form a capacitor with a corresponding capacitive metal plate of a lock when brought into proximity with the metal plate of the lock. Data may be transferred from the key to the lock using a capacitor formed by combining the two metal plates, wherein a common ground is established between the metal plate of the key and the metal plate of the lock through a parasitic capacitance present between the key and lock circuitry. Audit trail data may be recorded based on usage of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Bryan E. Pavlovic, Tamara Hatzinger, Dominik Scheffler, Howard Needham, Jason Pedersen, John Kowalski, Timothy Sherack, William James
  • Patent number: 11598121
    Abstract: An electronic key may include a partial capacitor comprising a capacitive metal plate in communication with a processor. The capacitive metal plate of the partial capacitor is configured to form a capacitor with a corresponding capacitive metal plate of a lock when brought into proximity with the metal plate of the lock. Data may be transferred from the key to the lock using a capacitor formed by combining the two metal plates, wherein a common ground is established between the metal plate of the key and the metal plate of the lock through a parasitic capacitance present between the key and lock circuitry. Audit trail data may be recorded based on usage of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Knox Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan E. Pavlovic, Tamara Hatzinger, Dominik Scheffler, Howard Needham, Jason Pedersen, John Kowalski, Timothy Sherack, William James
  • Publication number: 20210207402
    Abstract: An electronic key may include a partial capacitor comprising a capacitive metal plate in communication with a processor. The capacitive metal plate of the partial capacitor is configured to form a capacitor with a corresponding capacitive metal plate of a lock when brought into proximity with the metal plate of the lock. Data may be transferred from the key to the lock using a capacitor formed by combining the two metal plates, wherein a common ground is established between the metal plate of the key and the metal plate of the lock through a parasitic capacitance present between the key and lock circuitry. Audit trail data may be recorded based on usage of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Bryan E. Pavlovic, Tamara Hatzinger, Dominik Scheffler, Howard Needham, Jason Pedersen, John Kowalski, Timothy Sherack, William James
  • Patent number: 10890015
    Abstract: An electronic key may include a partial capacitor comprising a capacitive metal plate in communication with a processor. The capacitive metal plate of the partial capacitor is configured to form a capacitor with a corresponding capacitive metal plate of a lock when brought into proximity with the metal plate of the lock. Data may be transferred from the key to the lock using a capacitor formed by combining the two metal plates, wherein a common ground is established between the metal plate of the key and the metal plate of the lock through a parasitic capacitance present between the key and lock circuitry. Audit trail data may be recorded based on usage of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Knox Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan E. Pavlovic, Tamara Hatzinger, Dominik Scheffler, Howard Needham, Jason Pedersen, John Kowalski, Timothy Sherack, William James
  • Publication number: 20200095804
    Abstract: An electronic key may include a partial capacitor comprising a capacitive metal plate in communication with a processor. The capacitive metal plate of the partial capacitor is configured to form a capacitor with a corresponding capacitive metal plate of a lock when brought into proximity with the metal plate of the lock. Data may be transferred from the key to the lock using a capacitor formed by combining the two metal plates, wherein a common ground is established between the metal plate of the key and the metal plate of the lock through a parasitic capacitance present between the key and lock circuitry. Audit trail data may be recorded based on usage of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Bryan E. Pavlovic, Tamara Hatzinger, Dominik Scheffler, Howard Needham, Jason Pedersen, John Kowalski, Timothy Sherack, William James