Patents by Inventor Michael Cao

Michael Cao 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: 9773137
    Abstract: A license detector system enables a person such as a police officer to monitor vehicles on the road to ensure drivers have valid licenses. Within each valid license is an RFID tag which contains specific information and each RFID tag is able to send that information to a detector when requested. To use the system, the police officer aims the detector at a vehicle, initiates the signal to be received by the RFID tag within the license and waits to receive a signal back from the RFID tag. If a signal is received, then a valid license has been detected within the vehicle. However, if no signal or an invalid signal is received by the detector, then no one, specifically the driver of the car, has a valid license. Upon discovering such information, the police officer should be justified in stopping the vehicle and taking the necessary police action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: George Susumu Yonekura, Duane Yamasaki, Michael Cao
  • Patent number: 9657472
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit having a digital media interface, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes a rear face having a section extending therefrom. The section extending from the housing includes a first face parallel to the rear face and a second face connecting the first face to the rear face. The second face includes ports allowing access to the digital media interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Publication number: 20160328587
    Abstract: A license detector system enables a person such as a police officer to monitor vehicles on the road to ensure drivers have valid licenses. Within each valid license is an RFID tag which contains specific information and each RFID tag is able to send that information to a detector when requested. To use the system, the police officer aims the detector at a vehicle, initiates the signal to be received by the RFID tag within the license and waits to receive a signal back from the RFID tag. If a signal is received, then a valid license has been detected within the vehicle. However, if no signal or an invalid signal is received by the detector, then no one, specifically the driver of the car, has a valid license. Upon discovering such information, the police officer should be justified in stopping the vehicle and taking the necessary police action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: George Susumu Yonekura, Duane Yamasaki, Michael Cao
  • Patent number: 9477521
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for scheduling a plurality of tasks for execution on one or more processors. An example method includes obtaining a counter value of a counter. The method also includes for each work queue of a plurality of work queues, identifying an execution period of the respective work queue and comparing a counter value to an execution period of the respective work queue. Each work queue includes a set of tasks and is defined by an execution period at which to run the respective set of queued tasks. The method further includes selecting, based on the comparing, a subset of the plurality of work queues. The method also includes scheduling a set of tasks of slower frequency queued in a selected work queue for execution on one or more processors before a set of tasks queued in a non-selected work queue. The work items may be scheduled in O(1) because the design inherently prioritizes the tasks based on the urgency of their completion, and may do so by resetting a work queue pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NETAPP, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Truong, Alexander Sideropoulos, Michael Cao, Raymond Luk, Darren Sawyer
  • Patent number: 9430684
    Abstract: A license detector system enables a person such as a police officer to monitor vehicles on the road to ensure drivers have valid licenses. Within each valid license is an RFID tag which contains specific information and each RFID tag is able to send that information to a detector when requested. To use the system, the police officer aims the detector at a vehicle, initiates the signal to be received by the RFID tag within the license and waits to receive a signal back from the RFID tag. If a signal is received, then a valid license has been detected within the vehicle. However, if no signal or an invalid signal is received by the detector, then no one, specifically the driver of the car, has a valid license. Upon discovering such information, the police officer should be justified in stopping the vehicle and taking the necessary police action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: George Sunsumu Yonekura, Duane Yamasaki, Michael Cao
  • Patent number: 9304702
    Abstract: A system and method for of prioritizing accumulation of time-dependent data is disclosed. In an embodiment, a plurality of data elements are identified to be retrieved. The data elements include a high-priority data element and a low-priority data element. A first data retrieval operation is performed to retrieve the high-priority data element, to store a copy of the high-priority data element in a memory structure, and to reserve a memory space in the memory structure for the low-priority data element based on the low-priority data element corresponding to the high-priority data element. In parallel with the first data retrieval operation, a second data retrieval operation is performed to analyze the memory structure to detect the reserved memory space, upon detecting the reserved memory space, to retrieve the low-priority data element, and to store a copy of the low-priority data element in the reserved memory space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NETAPP, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Truong, Alexander Sideropoulos, Michael Cao, Raymond Luk
  • Patent number: 9256477
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating state information of a session between a plurality of processing threads in a hierarchy. The session is passed down through the hierarchy, with one or more threads processing the session at each level of the hierarchy. An example method includes reading a first pointer of a first processing thread and comparing the first pointer to a second pointer of a second processing thread. The second processing thread is dependent on the first processing thread. The method also includes in response to determining that the first pointer does not match the second pointer, processing a set of configuration items in a session. The method further includes after processing the set of configuration items in the session, updating the second pointer of the second processing thread to match the first pointer of the first processing thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: NETAPP, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Truong, Alexander Sideropoulos, Michael Cao, Raymond Luk
  • Publication number: 20160017585
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit having a digital media interface, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes a rear face having a section extending therefrom. The section extending from the housing includes a first face parallel to the rear face and a second face connecting the first face to the rear face. The second face includes ports allowing access to the digital media interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Publication number: 20150347196
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating state information of a session between a plurality of processing threads in a hierarchy. The session is passed down through the hierarchy, with one or more threads processing the session at each level of the hierarchy. An example method includes reading a first pointer of a first processing thread and comparing the first pointer to a second pointer of a second processing thread. The second processing thread is dependent on the first processing thread. The method also includes in response to determining that the first pointer does not match the second pointer, processing a set of configuration items in a session. The method further includes after processing the set of configuration items in the session, updating the second pointer of the second processing thread to match the first pointer of the first processing thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Truong, Alexander Sideropoulos, Michael Cao, Raymond Luk
  • Publication number: 20150347186
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for scheduling a plurality of tasks for execution on one or more processors. An example method includes obtaining a counter value of a counter. The method also includes for each work queue of a plurality of work queues, identifying an execution period of the respective work queue and comparing a counter value to an execution period of the respective work queue. Each work queue includes a set of tasks and is defined by an execution period at which to run the respective set of queued tasks. The method further includes selecting, based on the comparing, a subset of the plurality of work queues. The method also includes scheduling a set of tasks of slower frequency queued in a selected work queue for execution on one or more processors before a set of tasks queued in a non-selected work queue. The work items may be scheduled in O(1) because the design inherently prioritizes the tasks based on the urgency of their completion, and may do so by resetting a work queue pointer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Truong, Alexander Sideropoulos, Michael Cao, Raymond Luk
  • Publication number: 20150347055
    Abstract: A system and method for of prioritizing accumulation of time-dependent data is disclosed. In an embodiment, a plurality of data elements are identified to be retrieved. The data elements include a high-priority data element and a low-priority data element. A first data retrieval operation is performed to retrieve the high-priority data element, to store a copy of the high-priority data element in a memory structure, and to reserve a memory space in the memory structure for the low-priority data element based on the low-priority data element corresponding to the high-priority data element. In parallel with the first data retrieval operation, a second data retrieval operation is performed to analyze the memory structure to detect the reserved memory space, upon detecting the reserved memory space, to retrieve the low-priority data element, and to store a copy of the low-priority data element in the reserved memory space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Truong, Alexander Sideropoulos, Michael Cao, Raymond Luk
  • Patent number: 9179966
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of delivering current to a target tissue using a medical instrument, wherein the medical instrument is configured to track and deliver a predetermined current time amount. Also disclosed herein are methods and a system of monitoring for usage of a hemorrhoid treatment instrument and invoicing for such usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Vascular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Newton, Michael Cao
  • Patent number: 9170720
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes ports on the second face allowing access to a digital audio input, the plumbing fixture configured to output audio via a speaker based on the digital audio input. The plumbing fixture further includes a remote control configured to control the plumbing fixture and further configured to customize selectable audio sources for playback via the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Patent number: 8948501
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an object detection and behavior recognition system using three-dimensional motion data. The system receives three-dimensional (3D) motion data of a scene from at least one sensor, such as a LIDAR sensor. An object is identified in the 3D motion data. Thereafter, an object track is extracted, the object track being indicative of object motion in the scene over time. Through Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) or other comparison techniques, the object track is compared to a database to identify the behavior of the object based on its object track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Kyungnam Kim, Shankar R. Rao, Yuri Owechko, Swarup Medasani, Michael Cao, Jiejun Xu
  • Publication number: 20140373263
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes ports on the second face allowing access to a digital audio input, the plumbing fixture configured to output audio via a speaker based on the digital audio input. The plumbing fixture further includes a remote control configured to control the plumbing fixture and further configured to customize selectable audio sources for playback via the speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Patent number: 8702145
    Abstract: A cargo area assembly for a movable seat in an automotive vehicle includes a configurable panel covering at least a portion of a storage compartment located rearwardly of the seat. The configurable panel and a removable panel cooperate to cover the storage compartment, if desired, in a full forward and full rearward position of the seat. The configurable panel incorporates hinges to allow various positioning of panel portions and storage alternatives, and the removable panel is dimensioned for storage in the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Cao, Ross L. Burghardt
  • Publication number: 20130314207
    Abstract: A license detector system enables a person such as a police officer to monitor vehicles on the road to ensure drivers have valid licenses. Within each valid license is an RFID tag which contains specific information and each RFID tag is able to send that information to a detector when requested. To use the system, the police officer aims the detector at a vehicle, initiates the signal to be received by the RFID tag within the license and waits to receive a signal back from the RFID tag. If a signal is received, then a valid license has been detected within the vehicle. However, if no signal or an invalid signal is received by the detector, then no one, specifically the driver of the car, has a valid license. Upon discovering such information, the police officer should be justified in stopping the vehicle and taking the necessary police action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: George Sunsumu Yonekura, Duane Yamasaki, Michael Cao
  • Patent number: 8547216
    Abstract: A system and method for a tire temperature measurement system is disclosed. An instantaneous temperature value of a tire may be requested through an input device. At the time of a temperature measurement request a control unit may retrieve tire temperature from a sensor and determine an instantaneous temperature value of a tire. The instantaneous temperature value of a tire may be displayed, stored and transmitted to a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Cao
  • Patent number: 8525644
    Abstract: A license detector system enables a person such as a police officer to monitor vehicles on the road to ensure drivers have valid licenses. Within each valid license is an RFID tag which contains specific information and each RFID tag is able to send that information to a detector when requested. To use the system, the police officer aims the detector at a vehicle, initiates the signal to be received by the RFID tag within the license and waits to receive a signal back from the RFID tag. If a signal is received, then a valid license has been detected within the vehicle. However, if no signal or an invalid signal is received by the detector, then no one, specifically the driver of the car, has a valid license. Upon discovering such information, the police officer should be justified in stopping the vehicle and taking the necessary police action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventors: George Susumu Yonekura, Duane Yamasaki, Michael Cao
  • Publication number: 20130147226
    Abstract: A cargo area assembly for a movable seat in an automotive vehicle includes a configurable panel covering at least a portion of a storage compartment located rearwardly of the seat. The configurable panel and a removable panel cooperate to cover the storage compartment, if desired, in a full forward and full rearward position of the seat. The configurable panel incorporates hinges to allow various positioning of panel portions and storage alternatives, and the removable panel is dimensioned for storage in the tailgate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Cao, Ross L. Burghardt