Patents by Inventor John C. Higgins

John C. Higgins 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: 20240123107
    Abstract: A sensor system useable in conjunction with one or more environmental fixtures is disclosed. Each of the fixtures preferably includes illumination functionality as well as UV sterilization functionality provided by a fan and UV LED chips in the fixture. One of the fixtures is preferably programmed as a master which executes a control algorithm to control and/or monitor the system. The sensor module includes a plurality of sensors for sensing different environmental conditions where the system is utilized. These sensed conditions are provided to the master fixture, whose control algorithm can use the sensed conditions to control one or more functions in each of the fixtures, such as illumination, UV sterilization, and/or fan speed. The master fixture can output necessary controls to other secondary fixtures in the environment. The system may further communicate with or include external devices that can wirelessly communicate with the system using an application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventor: John C. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20240042088
    Abstract: A sterilization box for treating room air is described. The air drawn into the sterilization box is irradiated with UV radiation, such as is provided from UV LED chips. The air may be drawn into the sterilization box by under-pressure within the box created by fans at the exit ports of the box. The air may be drawn into a first chamber of the box where it is treated with one wavelength of UV radiation and then passed to a second chamber, where it is treated with a second wavelength of UV radiation. After the air is sterilized, it can be put back into the room or building in which the fixture is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, Mark Sam, James Higgins, Jonathan Evans
  • Patent number: 11759540
    Abstract: A portable disinfecting apparatus with effective disinfection properties against pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses is disclosed. Embodiments of the portable disinfecting apparatus include a portable sterilization box having at least one path configured to receive drawn air and to irradiate the drawn air with UV radiation along the path to produce disinfected air. The path may be provided using baffles that are configured, for example, in a serpentine or spiral configuration to provide a non-linear flow path for the air. The UV light sources, such as UV LEDs may be mounted on the baffles. Embodiments of the apparatus include an intake tube connected to the sterilization box for drawing air into the sterilization box from a point high within the room that is to be disinfected. The disinfected air is released from the sterilization box a point lower in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: CalyxPure, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, Cody Renwick, Tim Gray, Chris Fall, Bradley Craig Chapman
  • Publication number: 20230061420
    Abstract: A lighting fixture is disclosed with effective disinfection properties against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The fixture includes a fan to continuously draw air into the light fixture. The air drawn in is irradiated with UV radiation within the fixture, such as is provided from UV LED chips. The relatively small volume of the light fixture allows the flux or energy density of the UV radiation to be made more intense. After the air is sterilized, it can be put back into the room or building in which the fixture is placed. The white light provided by white light LEDs in the fixture provides illumination, and can further provide significant emission peaks at 405 nm and 470 nm which is also useful to pathogen inactivation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, Mark Sam
  • Publication number: 20220362433
    Abstract: A portable disinfecting apparatus with effective disinfection properties against pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses is disclosed. Embodiments of the portable disinfecting apparatus include a portable sterilization box having at least one path configured to receive drawn air and to irradiate the drawn air with UV radiation along the path to produce disinfected air. The path may be provided using baffles that are configured, for example, in a serpentine or spiral configuration to provide a non-linear flow path for the air. The UV light sources, such as UV LEDs may be mounted on the baffles. Embodiments of the apparatus include an intake tube connected to the sterilization box for drawing air into the sterilization box from a point high within the room that is to be disinfected. The disinfected air is released from the sterilization box a point lower in the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, Cody Renwick, Tim Gray, Chris Fall, Bradley Craig Chapman
  • Publication number: 20220362432
    Abstract: A sensor system useable in conjunction with one or more environmental fixtures is disclosed. Each of the fixtures preferably includes illumination functionality as well as UV sterilization functionality provided by a fan and UV LED chips in the fixture. One of the fixtures is preferably programmed as a master which executes a control algorithm to control and/or monitor the system. The sensor module includes a plurality of sensors for sensing different environmental conditions where the system is utilized. These sensed conditions are provided to the master fixture, whose control algorithm can use the sensed conditions to control one or more functions in each of the fixtures, such as illumination, UV sterilization, and/or fan speed. The master fixture can output necessary controls to other secondary fixtures in the environment. The system may further communicate with or include external devices that can wirelessly communicate with the system using an application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventor: John C. Higgins
  • Patent number: 11499707
    Abstract: A lighting fixture is disclosed with effective disinfection properties against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The fixture includes a fan to continuously draw air into the light fixture. The air drawn in is irradiated with UV radiation within the fixture, such as is provided from UV LED chips. The relatively small volume of the light fixture allows the flux or energy density of the UV radiation to be made more intense. After the air is sterilized, it can be put back into the room or building in which the fixture is placed. The white light provided by white light LEDs in the fixture provides illumination, and can further provide significant emission peaks at 405 nm and 470 nm which is also useful to pathogen inactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: CalyxPure, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, Mark Sam
  • Publication number: 20210317981
    Abstract: A lighting fixture is disclosed with effective disinfection properties against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The fixture includes a fan to continuously draw air into the light fixture. The air drawn in is irradiated with UV radiation within the fixture, such as is provided from UV LED chips. The relatively small volume of the light fixture allows the flux or energy density of the UV radiation to be made more intense. After the air is sterilized, it can be put back into the room or building in which the fixture is placed. The white light provided by white light LEDs in the fixture provides illumination, and can further provide significant emission peaks at 405 nm and 470 nm which is also useful to pathogen inactivation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, Mark Sam
  • Patent number: 8350682
    Abstract: A system for providing external notification of a vehicle event to an operator includes a reader device connected to a control unit providing status of at least one vehicle condition with the vehicle having a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a plurality of warning devices connected to the reader device and a power supply connected to the reader device and to the warning devices wherein the reader device receives data via data lines from the control unit, decodes the received data to determine the occurrence of a vehicle event relating to the DPF and controls ground signal lines of the warning devices to trigger at least one of the warning devices based on the detection of a particular event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, David Keith Troupe
  • Publication number: 20120250297
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a light assembly comprising: an outer housing; a power source; a heat sink disposed within the outer housing; and a nonplanar substrate joined to the heat sink and operationally configured to accommodate one or more LED thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: John C. Higgins
  • Patent number: 8176052
    Abstract: Hyperspace index data structure. A data structure indexes identifiers corresponding to parameter patterns. The presence of an identifier in the data structure indicates that the corresponding parameter pattern may be present in a set of parameter patterns, while absence of the indicator can be used to indicate that the corresponding parameter pattern is not present. The data structure includes a first field which includes binary bits or groups of small parameter pattern keyed records. Each binary bit or parameter pattern keyed record corresponds to an identifier corresponding to a parameter pattern. If the bit or record corresponding to the identifier is set or present, the identifier is included in the first field. One or more additional fields are hierarchically below the first data field. Each of the additional fields includes identifiers for a subset of information in the first field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Perfect Search Corporation
    Inventors: Dillion Inouye, Jeanne Inouye, legal representative, Ronald P. Millett, John C. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20120096008
    Abstract: A data structure indexes identifiers corresponding to parameter patterns. The presence of an identifier in the data structure indicates that the corresponding parameter pattern may be present in a set of parameter patterns, while absence of the indicator can be used to indicate that the corresponding parameter pattern is not present. The data structure includes a first field which includes small parameter pattern records. Each parameter pattern record corresponds to an identifier corresponding to a parameter pattern. If the record corresponding to the identifier is set or present, the identifier is included in the first field. One or more additional fields are hierarchically below the first field. Each of the additional fields includes identifiers for a subset of information in the first field. The absence of an identifier corresponding to a parameter pattern at any level in all of the hierarchical threads indicates that the parameter pattern is not present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: PERFECT SEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dillon K. Inouye, Jeanne B. Inouye, Ronald P. Millett, John C. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20100315213
    Abstract: A system for providing external notification of a vehicle event to an operator includes a reader device connected to a control unit providing status of at least one vehicle condition with the vehicle having a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a plurality of warning devices connected to the reader device and a power supply connected to the reader device and to the warning devices wherein the reader device receives data via data lines from the control unit, decodes the received data to determine the occurrence of a vehicle event relating to the DPF and controls ground signal lines of the warning devices to trigger at least one of the warning devices based on the detection of a particular event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: MACK TRUCKS, INC.
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, David Keith Troupe
  • Patent number: 7774347
    Abstract: Determining intersection points of parameter patterns. Parameter patterns are specified in a query. A method includes identifying a first parameter pattern from the query as occurring less often in the index than one other parameter pattern in the query. The data store is searched until a present location of the data store has been identified as including the first parameter pattern. Then the data store is searched for a location of another parameter pattern. If the present location is identified as including the another parameter pattern, then an indication is provided identifying an intersection. Otherwise, the method includes continuing searching remaining portions of the data store to find a location of the another parameter pattern at a new present location. At least one of the acts of searching above includes eliminating at least a portion of records of the data store from searching without being searched prior to being eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Perfect Search Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald P. Millett, Dillon K. Inouye, John C. Higgins
  • Patent number: 7774353
    Abstract: Searching a data store for parameter patterns specified in a query. A method includes receiving a query from a user including N parameter patterns. One or more alternatives are associated to one or more of the N parameter patterns. One or more templates are created. Each of the templates describes a number of microsearches. Each of the microsearches includes one or more of the N parameter patterns or the alternatives. Microsearches described by at least one of the one or more templates are enumerated. One or more sub-microsearches are performed by searching for parameter patterns and/or alternatives. Each sub-microsearch may have less than all terms needed for a full microsearch. Based on the results of the one or more sub-microsearches, one or more microsearches are eliminated from searching. The data store is searched using one or more of the remaining microsearches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Perfect Search Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald P. Millett, Dillon K. Inouye, John C. Higgins, John P. Pratt
  • Publication number: 20090307184
    Abstract: Hyperspace index data structure. A data structure indexes identifiers corresponding to parameter patterns. The presence of an identifier in the data structure indicates that the corresponding parameter pattern may be present in a set of parameter patterns, while absence of the indicator can be used to indicate that the corresponding parameter pattern is not present. The data structure includes a first field which includes binary bits or groups of small parameter pattern keyed records. Each binary bit or parameter pattern keyed record corresponds to an identifier corresponding to a parameter pattern. If the bit or record corresponding to the identifier is set or present, the identifier is included in the first field. One or more additional fields are hierarchically below the first data field. Each of the additional fields includes identifiers for a subset of information in the first field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Dillon K. Inouye, Ronald P. Millett, John C. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20090063454
    Abstract: Determining intersection points of parameter patterns. Parameter patterns are specified in a query. A method includes identifying a first parameter pattern from the query as occurring less often in the index than one other parameter pattern in the query. The data store is searched until a present location of the data store has been identified as including the first parameter pattern. Then the data store is searched for a location of another parameter pattern. If the present location is identified as including the another parameter pattern, then an indication is provided identifying an intersection. Otherwise, the method includes continuing searching remaining portions of the data store to find a location of the another parameter pattern at a new present location. At least one of the acts of searching above includes eliminating at least a portion of records of the data store from searching without being searched prior to being eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: PERFECT SEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald P. Millett, Dillon K. Inouye, John C. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20090063479
    Abstract: Searching a data store for parameter patterns specified in a query. A method includes receiving a query from a user including N parameter patterns. One or more alternatives are associated to one or more of the N parameter patterns. One or more templates are created. Each of the templates describes a number of microsearches. Each of the microsearches includes one or more of the N parameter patterns or the alternatives. Microsearches described by at least one of the one or more templates are enumerated. One or more sub-microsearches are performed by searching for parameter patterns and/or alternatives. Each sub-microsearch may have less than all terms needed for a full microsearch. Based on the results of the one or more sub-microsearches, one or more microsearches are eliminated from searching. The data store is searched using one or more of the remaining microsearches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: PERFECT SEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald P. Millett, Dillon K. Inouye, John C. Higgins, John P. Pratt
  • Patent number: 5613728
    Abstract: A vehicle cab with a roof hatch (12) which comprises front and rear hatch sections (14) and (16), the rear section (14) being over an escape hatchway (26) and the front section (16) being over an equipment access hatchway (28) of a roof compartment. The front hatch section (16) is mounted on a front roof section (10a) along its forward edge by hinges (18), and releasably latched to a middle roof section (10c) along its rearward edge by secondary latches (22). The rear hatch section (14) is mounted on the rearward edge of the front hatch section (16) by hinges (20), and releasably latched to the rear roof section (10b) by a primary latch (40). The primary catch (40) may be released and the rear hatch section (14) may be partially opened and retained with rear stays (64) to provide ventilation. The rear stays (64) may then be automatically released when the rear hatch section (14) is pushed past the retention point to fully open the escape hatchway (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Massey Ferguson Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Derek J. Smith, John C. Higgins
  • Patent number: 4485666
    Abstract: A portable gas analyzer uses a pump to take a gas sample and pump it through a carbon monoxide sensing cell, an oxygen-sensing cell and a methane-sensing pellister. Concentrations of these gases are displayed continuously on LCD displays. The gas analyzer is particularly useful in underground coal mines and offers the possibility of replacing many different gas analyzers with a simple convenient apparatus which gives continuous readings of all the critical gas concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Coal Industry (Patents) Limited
    Inventors: John C. Higgins, Harvie R. C. Wright, David Trainer