Patents by Inventor Jennifer M. Alexander

Jennifer M. Alexander 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: 20190287366
    Abstract: A control system of a detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area includes a control unit having at least one processor for implementing an algorithm and a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light, the at least one fiber optic cable defining at least one node arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A sensor is operably coupled to the at least one node, wherein the sensor receives scattered light associated with the at least one node and generates signals corresponding to the scattered light. A switch is operably coupled to the sensor and to the control unit. The switch selectively provides signals from the sensor to the control unit for processing to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the condition within the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Jennifer M. Alexander, Peter R. Harris, Jie Xi, Hui Fang, Yanzhi Chen
  • Publication number: 20190287367
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area including a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a plurality of nodes arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A control system is operably coupled to the fiber harness such that scattered light associated with the plurality of nodes is transmitted to the control system. The control system analyzes the scattered light from each of the plurality of nodes individually and the control system analyzes the scattered light from each of the plurality of nodes collectively to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions within the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Jennifer M. Alexander, Alan Matthew Finn, Yanzhi Chen, Hui Fang, Jie Xi, Peter R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20190287369
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a node arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A control system is operably coupled to the fiber harness such that a signal indicative of scattered light associated with the node is transmitted to the control system. The control system analyzes the signal associated with the node in one or more of a frequency domain, time-frequency domain, time domain, and spatial domain, to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the condition within the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Jennifer M. Alexander, Yanzhi Chen, Peter R. Harris, Jie Xi, Alan Matthew Finn, Hui Fang
  • Publication number: 20190287365
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a node arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A control system is operably coupled to the fiber harness such that scattered light associated with the node is transmitted to the control system. The control system analyzes the scattered light to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, David L. Lincoln, Jennifer M. Alexander, Peter R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20190287370
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light, the at least one fiber optic cable defining a node arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A control system is operably coupled to the fiber harness such that scattered light associated with the node is transmitted to the control system, wherein the control system analyzes the scattered light to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node. An optical element is operably connected to the fiber harness or control system to alter or define the operational range or sensitivity of the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, David L. Lincoln, Jennifer M. Alexander, Peter R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20190287368
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more condition within a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a node arranged to measure the one or more conditions. A light source is coupled to the at least one fiber optic cable for emitting a modulated light to the node. The modulated light is transmitted into the predetermined area. A light sensitive device is coupled to the at least one fiber optic cable for receiving scattered light associated with the node. A control unit is operably coupled to the light source and to the light sensitive device to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions within the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Jennifer M. Alexander, Alan Matthew Finn, Yanzhi Chen, Jie Xi, Peter R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20190272723
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light, a plurality of nodes operably connected to the at least one fiber optic cable arranged to measure one or more conditions within the predetermined area, a coupling to connect each node of the plurality of nodes to the at least one fiber optic cable, and a control system operably coupled to the fiber harness such that scattered light associated with the node is transmitted to the control system, wherein the control system analyzes the scattered light to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Jennifer M. Alexander, Peter R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20190019387
    Abstract: A system for monitoring smoke and/or temperature of an electronic device includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable terminating at a node. The node is located to measure one or more conditions at the electronic device, and a control system operably connected to the fiber harness. The control system includes a light source configured to transmit light through the fiber harness, a light sensitive device configured to receive scattered light associated with the node, and a control unit configured to analyze the scattered light to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node of one or more conditions at the electronic device, wherein the control unit is further configured to transmit a signal in response to the one or more conditions, wherein the one or more conditions are one or more of smoke, fire, and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Stefan Coreth, Kenneth Bell, Jennifer M. Alexander, Peter R. Harris, Antonio M. Vincitore
  • Publication number: 20180252654
    Abstract: A system for detection and monitoring includes one or more light sources configured to emit light into a monitored space. At least one of the light sources is configured to emit a respective emission cone having a respective emission cone axis. One or more light sensing devices are configured to receive scattered light. At least one of the one or more light sensing devices defines a respective acceptance cone having a respective acceptance cone axis. The emission cone axis of the emission cone, and/or the acceptance cone axis of the light sensing device is angled toward the other. A processor is operatively connected to the at least one light sensing devices to evaluate the scattered light for the presence of particulates in the monitored space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: David L. Lincoln, Jennifer M. Alexander, Michael J. Birnkrant, Peter R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20180224373
    Abstract: A system for particulate detection and monitoring includes one or more light sources configured to emit light into a monitored space. The system includes at least two light sensing devices configured to receive scattered light. Respective sensing portions of the three two sensing devices share a common centerline axis. A processor is operatively connected to the two light sensing devices and is configured to evaluate the scattered light for presence of particulates in the monitored space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: David L. Lincoln, Jennifer M. Alexander, Michael J. Birnkrant, Peter R. Harris
  • Publication number: 20180136054
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring the presence of one or more conditions in a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a node arranged to measure the one or more conditions. The node is arranged such that light scattered by an atmosphere adjacent the node is received by at least one core of the fiber optic cable. A control system operably connected to the fiber harness includes a light source for transmitting light to the node and a light sensitive device configured to receive scattered light associated with the node. The control system analyzes more than one signal corresponding to more than one wavelength of the scattered light associated with the node to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Kenneth Bell, Stefan Coreth, Peter R. Harris, Antonio M. Vincitore, Jennifer M. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20180136053
    Abstract: A method of monitoring smoke, fire, and temperature conditions includes transmitting light through a first fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable terminating at a node disposed to monitor a smoke or fire condition at one or more predetermined areas, transmitting light along a second fiber optic cable, the second fiber optic cable arranged to monitor a temperature condition at one or more predetermined areas, receiving scattered light from the first fiber optic cable and/or the second fiber optic cable at a control system, and analyzing the scattered light to determine at least one of the presence and magnitude of smoke, fire and/or a temperature condition along the fiber harness or at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Stefan Coreth, Kenneth Bell, Jennifer M. Alexander, Peter R. Harris, Antonio M. Vincitore
  • Publication number: 20180136122
    Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a node arranged to measure the condition. The node is arranged such that light scattered by an atmosphere adjacent the node is received by at least one core of the fiber optic cable at at least one scattering angle relative to light transmitted through the node. A control system is operably coupled to the fiber harness such that scattered light associated with the node is transmitted to the control system. The control system analyzes the scattered light to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Birnkrant, Stefan Coreth, Kenneth Bell, Peter R. Harris, Antonio M. Vincitore, Jennifer M. Alexander