Patents by Inventor Michael A. Pikula

Michael A. Pikula 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).

  • Patent number: 7539085
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time keeping system includes a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device includes a receiving unit to receive a first signal having a time component, a processor coupled to the receiving unit and operable to process the signal to produce a processed time component, an internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time, and a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal having the first internal time and an event having an instruction and a time element. The secondary device includes a transceiving unit to receive the second signal and transmit a third signal, an internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the internal time to produce a second internal time, and an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Quartex, division of Primex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 7499379
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing an event system. The method includes receiving a first signal at a primary device. The first signal includes a time component. The method also includes processing the first signal to produce a second signal. The second signal includes the processed time component and an instruction. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device, wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device, wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device, wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device, and executing an event with the third signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Quartex, division of Primax, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 7480210
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time keeping system includes a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device includes a receiving unit to receive a first signal, a processor coupled to the receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produce a processed time component, an internal clock to store and increment the component to produce a first internal time, and a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal having the first internal time and an event having an instruction and a time element. The secondary device includes a receiving unit to receive the second signal, an internal clock to store and increment the first internal time to produce a second internal time, a memory operable to store one or more messages, a display operable to display the messages, and an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Quartex, division of Primex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20080316870
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time system comprising a primary master event device and secondary slave devices. The primary event device receives a global positioning systems “GPS” time signal, processes the GPS time signal, receives a programmed instruction, and broadcasts or transmits the processed time signal and the programmed instruction to the secondary slave devices. The secondary slave devices receive the processed time signal and the programmed instruction, select an identified programmed instruction, display the time, and execute an event associated with the programmed instruction. The primary event device and the secondary devices further include a power interrupt module for retaining the time and the programmed instruction in case of a power loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 7457200
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time system comprising a primary master event device and secondary slave devices. The primary event device receives a global positioning systems “GPS” time signal, processes the GPS time signal, receives a programmed instruction, and broadcasts or transmits the processed time signal and the programmed instruction to the secondary slave devices. The secondary slave devices receive the processed time signal and the programmed instruction, select an identified programmed instruction, display the time, and execute an event associated with the programmed instruction. The primary event device and the secondary devices further include a power interrupt module for retaining the time and the programmed instruction in case of a power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Quartex, division of Primex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20080212413
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing an event system. The method includes receiving a first signal at a primary device. The first signal includes a time component. The method also includes processing the first signal to produce a second signal. The second signal includes the processed time component and an instruction. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device, wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device, wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device, wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device, and executing an event with the third signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20080212412
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time keeping system includes a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device includes a receiving unit to receive a first signal, a processor coupled to the receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produce a processed time component, an internal clock to store and increment the component to produce a first internal time, and a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal having the first internal time and an event having an instruction and a time element. The secondary device includes a receiving unit to receive the second signal, an internal clock to store and increment the first internal time to produce a second internal time, a memory operable to store one or more messages, a display operable to display the messages, and an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20080198698
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time keeping system includes a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device includes a receiving unit to receive a first signal having a time component, a processor coupled to the receiving unit and operable to process the signal to produce a processed time component, an internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time, and a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal having the first internal time and an event having an instruction and a time element. The secondary device includes a transceiving unit to receive the second signal and transmit a third signal, an internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the internal time to produce a second internal time, and an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 7411869
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing an event system. The method includes receiving a first signal at a primary device, where the first signal includes a time component, and processing the first signal to produce a second signal, where the second signal includes the time component and an instruction. The method also includes wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device, wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device, and wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device, where the third signal includes the time component and the instruction. The method further includes wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device and executing an event with the third signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Quartex, division of Primex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20050111304
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing an event system. The method includes receiving a first signal at a primary device, where the first signal includes a time component, and processing the first signal to produce a second signal, where the second signal includes the time component and an instruction. The method also includes wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device, wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device, and wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device, where the third signal includes the time component and the instruction. The method further includes wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device and executing an event with the third signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Quartex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pikula, Robin Gollnick, Terrence O'Neill
  • Patent number: 6873573
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time system comprising a primary master event device and secondary slave devices. The primary event device receives a global positioning systems “GPS” time signal, processes the GPS time signal, receives a programmed instruction, and broadcasts or transmits the processed time signal and the programmed instruction to the secondary slave devices. The secondary slave devices receive the processed time signal and the programmed instruction, select an identified programmed instruction, display the time, and execute an event associated with the programmed instruction. The primary event device and the secondary devices further include a power interrupt module for retaining the time and the programmed instruction in case of a power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Quartex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20050058157
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time system comprising a primary master event device and secondary slave devices. The primary event device receives a global positioning systems “GPS” time signal, processes the GPS time signal, receives a programmed instruction, and broadcasts or transmits the processed time signal and the programmed instruction to the secondary slave devices. The secondary slave devices receive the processed time signal and the programmed instruction, select an identified programmed instruction, display the time, and execute an event associated with the programmed instruction. The primary event device and the secondary devices further include a power interrupt module for retaining the time and the programmed instruction in case of a power loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: Quartex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pikula, Robin Gollnick, Terrence O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20030058742
    Abstract: A wireless synchronous time system comprising a primary master event device and secondary slave devices. The primary event device receives a global positioning systems “GPS” time signal, processes the GPS time signal, receives a programmed instruction, and broadcasts or transmits the processed time signal and the programmed instruction to the secondary slave devices. The secondary slave devices receive the processed time signal and the programmed instruction, select an identified programmed instruction, display the time, and execute an event associated with the programmed instruction. The primary event device and the secondary devices further include a power interrupt module for retaining the time and the programmed instruction in case of a power loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Quartex
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Robin W. Gollnick, Terrence J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 6269055
    Abstract: A radio-controlled clock movement for use in a radio-controlled clock which is synchronized with timing information supplied by a broadcast time signal includes a sound transducer for providing an audible signal representative of the strength of the received time signal. The clock is synchronized by setting the clock hands to an initial set position, decoding timing information from the broadcast time signal, calculating the relative distance to move the clock hands to make the displayed time synchronous with the decoded timing information and moving the clock hands the calculated relative distance. The initial set position is determined based on the desired time zone. In this manner, time zones are considered when setting the clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Quartex, a division of Primex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pikula, Terrence J. O'Neill