Patents by Inventor John J. Coulthard
John J. Coulthard 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: 7633378Abstract: An object identification system includes a monitor and a plurality of transceivers that communicate over a common medium. The monitor includes a first transmitter, a first receiver, and a processor. Each transceiver includes a resonant circuit, a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna coupled to the resonant circuit. The processor performs a method for performing transceiver communication that includes the steps of: (a) transmitting from the first transmitter a first frequency for a first duration; (b) after lapse of the first duration, receiving via the first receiver a response signal from at least one of the resonant circuits; (c) determining a second frequency from the received response signal; and (d) performing transceiver communication using the second frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: James L. Rodgers, John J. Coulthard, Billy C. Fowler, Howard K. Jaecks, Roc A. Lastinger, Paul A. Picard, Mohammad A. Rehman
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Patent number: 7193512Abstract: A system for improved monitoring of changes in the location and conditions surrounding vehicles and shippable property, utilizing fixed and moveable logic processors, which communicate with each other as well as receivers. Non-continuous signaling may be used to provide for reduced power consumption, and network coupling may be used to provided for exporting information to anywhere in the world by means of, for example GSM/GPS infrastructures.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2005Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Radio Data CorporationInventor: John J. Coulthard
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Patent number: 6982646Abstract: An object identification system includes a monitor and a plurality of transceivers that communicate over a common medium. The monitor includes a first transmitter, a first receiver, and a processor. Each transceiver includes a resonant circuit, a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna coupled to the resonant circuit. The processor performs a method for performing transceiver communication that includes the steps of: (a) transmitting from the first transmitter a first frequency for a first duration; (b) after lapse of the first duration, receiving via the first receiver a response signal from at least one of the resonant circuits; (c) determining a second frequency from the received response signal; and (d) performing transceiver communication using the second frequency.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2001Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: James L. Rodgers, John J. Coulthard, Billy C. Fowler, Howard K. Jaecks, Roc A. Lastinger, Paul A. Picard, Mohammad A. Rehman
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Patent number: 6972677Abstract: A system for improved monitoring of changes in the location and conditions surrounding people and property, utilizing fixed and moveable logic processors, which communicate with each other as well as receivers. Non-continuous signaling may be used to provide for reduced power consumption, and network coupling may be used to provided for exporting information to anywhere in the world.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Inventor: John J. Coulthard
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Patent number: 6831562Abstract: An object identification system includes a monitor and a plurality of transceivers that communicate over a common medium. The monitor includes a first transmitter, a first receiver, and a processor. Each transceiver includes a resonant circuit, a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna coupled to the resonant circuit. The processor performs a method for performing transceiver communication that includes the steps of: (a) transmitting from the first transmitter a first frequency for a first duration; (b) after lapse of the first duration, receiving via the first receiver a response signal from at least one of the resonant circuits; (c) determining a second frequency from the received response signal; and (d) performing transceiver communication using the second frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: James L. Rodgers, John J. Coulthard, Billy C. Fowler, Howard K. Jaecks, Roc A. Lastinger, Paul A. Picard, Mohammad A. Rehman
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Publication number: 20040044493Abstract: A system for improved monitoring of changes in the location and conditions surrounding people and property, utilizing fixed and moveable logic processors, which communicate with each other as well as receivers. Non-continuous signaling may be used to provide for reduced power consumption, and network coupling may be used to provided for exporting information to anywhere in the world.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Inventor: John J. Coulthard
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Patent number: 6621410Abstract: A system includes an identification circuit, a grid antenna, a receiver, and a processor. The identification circuit includes resonant circuits formed on a substrate within a perimeter. Identification may be based on a quantity or physical arrangement of detected resonant circuits within the perimeter. One resonant circuit provides a reference signal. Any resonant circuit may be tuned in accordance with the reference signal by the addition or subtraction of reactance formed on the substrate. A capacitance of a first group of capacitors located outside a turn of an inductor is roughly equal to a capacitance of a second group of capacitors located inside the turn. Any resonant circuit may also be tuned by affixing a resonance modifying element, for example a sticker, to the identification circuit. The grid antenna provides antenna field patterns, one for each cell location. The receiver communicates with the identification circuit via the grid antenna.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: Roc A. Lastinger, James L. Rodgers, John J. Coulthard, Robert P. Ufford
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Patent number: 6552661Abstract: A locator according to various aspects of the present invention includes a receiver and a processor. The receiver receives several signals, each signal having respective indicia of identification device presence within a respective communication pattern. The processor performs a method for determining whether a first identification device is located within a zone. The method includes the following steps performed in any order. A first step of determining, in response to receiver signals, a respective reliability of communication between the receiver and a plurality of identification devices. The plurality includes the first identification device and at least one second identification device. A first and a second communication pattern each respectively has a periphery such that communication with a provided identification device when located beyond the periphery is less reliable than communication with the provided identification device when located within the periphery.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: Roc A. Lastinger, John J. Coulthard, Steve Koerner
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Patent number: 6362737Abstract: An object identification system includes a monitor and a plurality of transceivers that communicate over a common medium. The monitor includes a first transmitter, a first receiver, and a processor. Each transceiver includes a resonant circuit, a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna coupled to the resonant circuit. The processor performs a method for performing transceiver communication that includes the steps of: (a) transmitting from the first transmitter a first frequency for a first duration; (b) after lapse of the first duration, receiving via the first receiver a response signal from at least one of the resonant circuits; (c) determining a second frequency from the received response signal; and (d) performing transceiver communication using the second frequency.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1999Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: James L. Rodgers, John J. Coulthard, Billy C. Fowler, Howard K. Jaecks, Roc A. Lastinger, Paul A. Picard, Mohammad A. Rehman
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Publication number: 20020033757Abstract: An object identification system includes a monitor and a plurality of transceivers that communicate over a common medium. The monitor includes a first transmitter, a first receiver, and a processor. Each transceiver includes a resonant circuit, a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna coupled to the resonant circuit. The processor performs a method for performing transceiver communication that includes the steps of: (a) transmitting from the first transmitter a first frequency for a first duration; (b) after lapse of the first duration, receiving via the first receiver a response signal from at least one of the resonant circuits; (c) determining a second frequency from the received response signal; and (d) performing transceiver communication using the second frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Applicant: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: James L. Rodgers, John J. Coulthard, Billy C. Fowler, Howard K. Jaecks, Roc A. Lastinger, Paul A. Picard, Mohammad A. Rehman
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Patent number: 6340932Abstract: A carrier, as used for example to transport several radio frequency identification devices, includes a circuit having an antenna and a series capacitor for tuning the antenna. Enhanced transceiver communication results when transceivers are placed in the carrier. Alternately, a carrier may include first and second antenna circuits, each having a capacitor for tuning the respective antenna. The two circuits may cooperate so that energy received in a first pattern is re-radiated in a second pattern for further enhanced transceiver communication, such as detection of the presence of the RFID device within the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2000Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: RF Code, Inc.Inventors: James L. Rodgers, John J. Coulthard, Billy C. Fowler, Howard K. Jaecks, Roc A. Lastinger, Paul A. Picard, Mohammad A. Rehman
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Patent number: 5825286Abstract: Selected vehicle operational parameters such as tire pressure, wheel temperature and vibration are sensed by sensors mounted on wheel modules secured to the individual vehicle wheels. The sensed parameters are converted to digital format and the resulting digital data is manipulated to determine if the data falls within predetermined operating ranges. The data and information resulting from the manipulation are used to modulate an RF signal transmitted to another location on the vehicle. Additional parameters are sensed at the second location, and calculations are performed on the data received from the wheel modules and the data sensed at the second location to display operational, efficiency and safety information to the vehicle operator and to make such information available to others such as vehicle owners and maintenance personnel.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1996Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: SemiSystems, Inc.Inventor: John J. Coulthard
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Patent number: 5656993Abstract: A tire monitor includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an A/D converter, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor has a sleep mode for conserving power and an output of the microprocessor controls the power applied to the pressure sensor and to the temperature sensor. A modulator and antenna are coupled to the microprocessor for transmitting data from the tire. Coupling between a monitor and a receiver is enhanced by extending a receiving antenna downwardly from the chassis of the vehicle, e.g. from the frame of a tractor.The tire monitor is fabricated on a small printed circuit board with terminals for programming or encoding each monitor with a unique identification code during manufacture of the monitor. Terminals are also provided for disabling the transmitter with a jumper until the monitor is installed in a tire.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1995Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: Semisystems, Inc.Inventor: John J. Coulthard