Patents by Inventor Kenneth Charles Rigdon
Kenneth Charles Rigdon 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: 10533882Abstract: Techniques for the design and operation of an efficient battery-powered meter are described herein. A metrology unit of the meter may be at least partially located in the gas flow of a pipe, and measures gas flow rate data according to a static flow sensor. The metrology unit calculates raw gas-volume data using at least the flow rate data as input. The metrology unit measures gas temperature to produce gas temperature data, and adjusts the raw gas-volume data, based at least in part on the gas temperature data, to produce corrected gas-volume data. The metrology unit accumulates the corrected gas-volume data over multiple minutes, hours or even days, and then sends the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to an index unit of the meter. By accumulating the data over time, fewer data transmissions are required. The index unit may send the accumulated the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to a utility server.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: George Iliev, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Johann de Jager
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Publication number: 20180087943Abstract: Techniques for the design and operation of an efficient battery-powered meter are described herein. A metrology unit of the meter may be at least partially located in the gas flow of a pipe, and measures gas flow rate data according to a static flow sensor. The metrology unit calculates raw gas-volume data using at least the flow rate data as input. The metrology unit measures gas temperature to produce gas temperature data, and adjusts the raw gas-volume data, based at least in part on the gas temperature data, to produce corrected gas-volume data. The metrology unit accumulates the corrected gas-volume data over multiple minutes, hours or even days, and then sends the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to an index unit of the meter. By accumulating the data over time, fewer data transmissions are required. The index unit may send the accumulated the accumulated corrected gas-volume data to a utility server.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: George Iliev, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Johann de Jager
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Patent number: 9860730Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson
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Patent number: 9456258Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 9356831Abstract: A node may be configured for operation in an intelligent network environment, wherein the node communicates via different modes of communication. The node selects a first mode of communication (e.g., mesh network mode). The node communicates via the first mode of communication. In response to determining a first condition (e.g., interference), the node selects a second mode of communication. The node then communicates via the second mode of communication. In response to determining a second condition (e.g., interference ceases), the node selects the first mode of communication and communicates via the first mode of communication.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Elliott Adam Nelson, Kenneth Charles Rigdon
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Publication number: 20160021433Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
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Publication number: 20160021525Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson
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Publication number: 20160019663Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson
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Publication number: 20140169152Abstract: A node may be configured for operation in an intelligent network environment, wherein the node communicates via different modes of communication. The node selects a first mode of communication (e.g., mesh network mode). The node communicates via the first mode of communication. In response to determining a first condition (e.g., interference), the node selects a second mode of communication. The node then communicates via the second mode of communication. In response to determining a second condition (e.g., interference ceases), the node selects the first mode of communication and communicates via the first mode of communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: ITRON, INC.Inventors: Elliott Adam Nelson, Kenneth Charles Rigdon