Patents by Inventor James T. Cain
James T. Cain 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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Patent number: 8391375Abstract: A method of communicating information from a wireless autonomous device (WAD) to a base station. The WAD has a data element having a predetermined profile having a total number of sequenced possible data element combinations. The method includes receiving at the WAD an RF profile transmitted by the base station that includes a triggering portion having a number of pulses, wherein the number is at least equal to the total number of possible data element combinations. The method further includes keeping a count of received pulses and wirelessly transmitting a piece of data, preferably one bit, to the base station when the count reaches a value equal to the stored data element's particular number in the sequence. Finally, the method includes receiving the piece of data at the base station and using the receipt thereof to determine which of the possible data element combinations the stored data element is.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: David W. Sammel, Jr., James T. Cain, Marlin H. Mickle, Minhong Mi
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Patent number: 8258957Abstract: A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Alex K. Jones, James T. Cain, Peter J. Hawrylak, Frank Marx, Raymond R. Hoare
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Publication number: 20110298591Abstract: A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: University of Pittsburgh-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Alex K. Jones, James T. Cain, Peter J. Hawrylak, Frank Marx, Raymond R. Hoare
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Patent number: 8074191Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for use in an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, wherein each of the primitives has a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, generating a template relating to the response corresponding to each of the primitives, receiving information specifying a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives based on the template, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the information.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Swapna Dontharaju, Raymond R. Hoare, James T. Cain, Alex Jones
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Patent number: 8022826Abstract: A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Alex K. Jones, James T. Cain, Peter J. Hawrylak, Frank Marx, Raymond R. Hoare
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Publication number: 20110103312Abstract: A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Alex K. Jones, James T. Cain, Peter J. Hawrylak, Frank Marx, Raymond R. Hoare
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Patent number: 7876225Abstract: A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Alex K. Jones, James T. Cain, Peter J. Hawrylak, Frank Marx, Raymond R. Hoare
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Patent number: 7722920Abstract: Described are methods of making an electronic device, such as an RFID tag, including fabricating an antenna by depositing an electrically conductive polymer onto a substrate. The electrically conductive polymer is electrically connected to an electronic component, such as an IC chip or a diode. The electronic component may be placed on the substrate before or after the electrically conductive polymer is deposited. Once deposited, the electrically conductive polymer is cured. The electrically conductive polymer may be deposited in a number of ways, such using a mask having a desired pattern and applying the electrically conductive polymer to the mask, by screen printing the electrically conductive polymer or by printing the electrically conductive polymer using ink jet printing techniques.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, James T. Cain, Michael R. Lovell, Jungfeng Mei
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Patent number: 7525436Abstract: A power management method for a transponder having a plurality of circuits including at least a first circuit having a first active state requiring at least a first power level, and a second circuit having a second active state requiring at least a second power level greater than the first power level includes receiving a reader device signal in the first circuit, determining in the first circuit, based on information included in the reader signal, whether the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate, and causing the first circuit to provide a wake-up signal and the reader signal to the second circuit if it is determined that the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate. The wake-up signal causes the second circuit to move from an inactive state to the second active state.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Peter J. Hawrylak, Raymond R. Hoare, Alex Jones, James T. Cain, Chuba Oyolu, Shenchih Tung
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Publication number: 20090070729Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for use in an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, wherein each of the primitives has a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, generating a template relating to the response corresponding to each of the primitives, receiving information specifying a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives based on the template, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the information.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Swapna Dontharaju, Raymond R. Hoare, James T. Cain, Alex Jones
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Publication number: 20090049415Abstract: A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, James T. Cain, Swapna Dontharaju, Raymond R. Hoare, Alex Jones
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Patent number: 7480876Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, each of the primitives having a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for the response corresponding to each of the primitives. The method further includes receiving a specification of the behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives that has one or more values specified for each of the second fields, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the specification. Also, a software tool which implements the method.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Swapna Dontharaju, Raymond R. Hoare, James T. Cain, Alex Jones
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Patent number: 7469390Abstract: A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, James T. Cain, Swapna Dontharaju, Raymond R. Hoare, Alex Jones
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Patent number: 7375637Abstract: A transponder apparatus having an identifier associated therewith includes a receiver for receiving an RF signal transmitted by an interrogator, a power source and a processing unit that is operatively coupled to the power source and is capable of being in an inactive, sleep state (low current draw) and an active state. The transponder apparatus also includes a buffer device that is structured to: (i) receive an information signal based on the RF signal from the receiver, (ii) determine whether the information signal includes the identifier, and (iii) cause the processing unit to move from the inactive state to the active state and transmit at least a portion of the information signal to the processing unit only if it is determined that the information signal includes the identifier. An associated method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaInventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Peter J. Hawrylak, Raymond R. Hoare, Alex Jones, James T. Cain, Chuba Oyolu, Shenchih Tung
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Publication number: 20070258535Abstract: A method of communicating information from a wireless autonomous device (WAD) to a base station. The WAD has a data element having a predetermined profile having a total number of sequenced possible data element combinations. The method includes receiving at the WAD an RF profile transmitted by the base station that includes a triggering portion having a number of pulses, wherein the number is at least equal to the total number of possible data element combinations. The method further includes keeping a count of received pulses and wirelessly transmitting a piece of data, preferably one bit, to the base station when the count reaches a value equal to the stored data element's particular number in the sequence. Finally, the method includes receiving the piece of data at the base station and using the receipt thereof to determine which of the possible data element combinations the stored data element is.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2007Publication date: November 8, 2007Inventors: David W. Sammel, James T. Cain, Marlin H. Mickle, Minhong Mi
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Publication number: 20070205873Abstract: A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2007Publication date: September 6, 2007Inventors: Marlin H. Mickle, Alex K. Jones, James T. Cain, Peter J. Hawrylak, Frank Marx, Raymond R. Hoare
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Patent number: 4314417Abstract: This invention relates to a holder for motor vehicle registration plates and consists of a backing member which is adapted for attachment to a motor vehicle and a frame made from a plastics material which covers the periphery of the registration plate when located on the holder and includes a first formation adapted to bear on the periphery of the plate and a plurality of second formations which by resilient transverse deformation of the frame are engageable with the underside of the backing member to lock the plate between the backing member and frame.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1979Date of Patent: February 9, 1982Assignee: JNPC Investments (Proprietary) LimitedInventor: James T. Cain