Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Denny

Joseph M. Denny 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: 20240010253
    Abstract: A method of detecting signal light integrity and viewability of a plurality of signal lights is performed by a signal light monitoring system including a plurality of signal light monitors coupled to the signal lights and a network interface communicator configured to interface the signal light monitors to a wireless network. The method includes receiving detection data from each signal light monitor, measuring a first measurement of signal light integrity, processing the first measurement of signal light integrity to determine at least one signal light integrity value, retrieving at least one performance requirement associated with the signal light monitors, comparing the performance requirement to the signal integrity value, determining whether each signal light monitor is compliant with the performance requirement, and propagating the compliance determination and the first measurement of signal light integrity over the wireless network via the network interface communicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Muhammad Mohsin Naseer, Gregory P. Fogarty
  • Patent number: 11794796
    Abstract: A system and method is proposed to ensure detection of signal light integrity and viewability. The system includes a wireless network of signal light monitors attached unobtrusively to the sun visors on each signal light for which monitoring is required. Each signal light monitor includes diverse sensors which detect signal light integrity and viewability. The detection sensors are simultaneously active to detect signal light intensity, color intensity and viewability. The information obtained from the sensors is transmitted wirelessly to a base signal light monitor. The base signal light monitor communicates this information over a mesh network to an edge processor. The network is self-healing and ensures data integrity using a pre-calculated communication link if a communication link between base signal light monitors is lost or broken. The edge processor is capable of image and condition analysis on the detection data and communicates events to an enterprise network for action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TEKTRACKING, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Muhammad Mohsin Naseer, Gregory P. Fogarty
  • Publication number: 20230053704
    Abstract: A traffic intersection monitoring system and method to ensure a traffic signal is viewable by vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians, by measuring the color light intensity of the signal light, and monitoring the orientation of the traffic signal light. Each phase of color is timed and coordinated with traffic counters to generate a real-time status of predicted future traffic signal light color with corresponding traffic volume. The predicted status and traffic counts are published for the use of any applicable subscriber of the traffic intersection monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: DenseFogg Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Gregory P. Fogarty, Muhammad M. Naseer
  • Patent number: 10518792
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reliable detection of oncoming trains and for warning roadway personnel working on the railroad track of the oncoming train. A train detection system includes a wireless communication network further including train detection modules attached to catenary poles along the sides of the railroad track. Each train detection module is equipped with at least two diverse sensors configured to detect trains and other on-track vehicles. Each train detection sensor is simultaneously active and works with other train detection sensors to detect an approaching train and generate train alerts. The train alerts are transmitted wirelessly over the wireless communication network by the train detection modules. The system transmits train alerts to personal alert devices worn by roadway workers. The personal alert device forms an ad-hoc wireless network with the train detection modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MILLER FELPAX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Muhammad Mohsin Naseer
  • Publication number: 20190344815
    Abstract: A system and method is proposed to ensure detection of signal light integrity and viewability. The system includes a wireless network of signal light monitors attached unobtrusively to the sun visors on each signal light for which monitoring is required. Each signal light monitor includes diverse sensors which detect signal light integrity and viewability. The detection sensors are simultaneously active to detect signal light intensity, color intensity and viewability. The information obtained from the sensors is transmitted wirelessly to a base signal light monitor. The base signal light monitor communicates this information over a mesh network to an edge processor. The network is self-healing and ensures data integrity using a pre-calculated communication link if a communication link between base signal light monitors is lost or broken. The edge processor is capable of image and condition analysis on the detection data and communicates events to an enterprise network for action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Muhammad Mohsin Naseer, Gregory P. Fogarty
  • Patent number: 10106079
    Abstract: A system for reliable detection of an approaching train and warning the roadway workers in proximity of the track is described. The system comprises at least one train detector cone (TDC) deployed along a side of an active railroad track and one or more personnel warning cones (PWC) placed near the work site, the cones configured in a wireless mesh network to provide redundant communication links. Detection of a train by the train detector cone is transmitted to the personnel warning cones which provide audible and visual warnings to nearby roadway workers. The system also includes a remote server for centralized tracking and monitoring of the train detector cones and personnel warning cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Miller Felpax
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Muhammad Mohsin Naseer
  • Publication number: 20170320507
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reliable detection of oncoming trains and for warning roadway personnel working on the railroad track of the oncoming train. A train detection system includes a wireless communication network further including train detection modules attached to catenary poles along the sides of the railroad track. Each train detection module is equipped with at least two diverse sensors configured to detect trains and other on-track vehicles. Each train detection sensor is simultaneously active and works with other train detection sensors to detect an approaching train and generate train alerts. The train alerts are transmitted wirelessly over the wireless communication network by the train detection modules. The system transmits train alerts to personal alert devices worn by roadway workers. The personal alert device forms an ad-hoc wireless network with the train detection modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Muhammad Mohsin Naseer
  • Publication number: 20170088046
    Abstract: A system for reliable detection of an approaching train and warning the roadway workers in proximity of the track is described. The system comprises at least one train detector cone (TDC) deployed along a side of an active railroad track and one or more personnel warning cones (PWC) placed near the work site, the cones configured in a wireless mesh network to provide redundant communication links. Detection of a train by the train detector cone is transmitted to the personnel warning cones which provide audible and visual warnings to nearby roadway workers. The system also includes a remote server for centralized tracking and monitoring of the train detector cones and personnel warning cones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: MILLER FELPAX CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOSEPH M. DENNY, MUHAMMAD MOHSIN NASEER
  • Patent number: 8296000
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the location of rolling stock within a controlled area of a railway system is provided. The system includes a plurality of axle counters within the controlled area, wherein the axle counts are associated with a global sequence identifier. A central controller processes the axle counts and associated global sequence identifier in conjunction with a list of rolling stock entering the controlled area to provide a real time map of the location of each piece of rolling stock within the controlled area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Railcomm, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Michael J. Penza, Andrew Kunzmann, Sean Gleeson
  • Publication number: 20120056042
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the location of rolling stock within a controlled area of a railway system is provided. The system includes a plurality of axle counters within the controlled area, wherein the axle counts are associated with a global sequence identifier. A central controller processes the axle counts and associated global sequence identifier in conjunction with a list of rolling stock entering the controlled area to provide a real time map of the location of each piece of rolling stock within the controlled area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: RAILCOMM, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Michael J. Penza, Andrew Kunzmann, Sean Gleeson
  • Patent number: 5867801
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle tracking and monitoring system for monitoring railway cars within a defined radius of a receiver for wireless communication. The system comprises a transmitter on-board each railway car, a receiver at a wayside station, and a central database at a remote location. The transmitter includes an RF circuit, an I/O circuit and a microcontroller for autonomously and spontaneously transmitting vehicle signals on a cyclic basis to the receiver. The transmitter periodically transmits railway car information and/or cargo status information to the receiver within a predetermined time interval, for example, every 15 minutes. In addition, the transmitted information is communicated from the wayside station to the central database over a longer time interval, fore example, every 24 hours. Accordingly, the central database develops a record of transit vehicle information based on the transmitted information for each transit vehicle in the defined radius of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: General Railway Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph M. Denny
  • Patent number: 5633628
    Abstract: A thermal warning device attaches to a wheel assembly of a railway car to detect whether the wheel assembly has reached high temperatures and may lead to a potential bearing failure. A temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the wheel assembly is coupled to an electronic circuit for determining whether a bearing failure may occur based on the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor. In particular, the temperature sensor adjustably extends into the wheel assembly in order to obtain accurate readings of high temperatures in wheel assembly. Also, the electronic circuit is situated away from the outer surface of the wheel assembly so that the electronic circuit will not be subjected to heat from the wheel assembly and may freely dissipate heat produced by its own components. Upon determination of a warning condition, the electronic circuit transmits a warning signal to a wayside station or train crew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: General Railway Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, David W. Marcellus, Gordon F. Quigley
  • Patent number: 5479255
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating or extracting a desired multispectral optical signal of interest from a background. Radiation is detected from a scene which includes the multispectral optical signal of interest and the background. A multiplicity of wavelength bands are selected from the detected radiation to generate a multispectral input spectrum. The multispectral input spectrum is processed to separate the multispectral optical signal of interest from the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Denny, Eric L. Upton