Patents by Inventor Molly A. Hardman

Molly A. Hardman 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: 8266465
    Abstract: A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20120166836
    Abstract: A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd
  • Patent number: 8151127
    Abstract: A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd
  • Patent number: 7739529
    Abstract: A system for conserving battery life in a battery operated device such as a tire tag where there are several modes of operation. The typical mode is the deep sleep mode where the tag is generally inactive (no clock is running; however, an RC watchdog timer is running, which uses very little power). The tag spends most of its time in this low power mode. The tag periodically partially awakens to a lucid sleep mode (when the watchdog timer times out), initiates a low-speed clock, determines if it is time to enter a search mode by examining a search mode counter and, if it is not time, adjusts the search mode counter (e.g., decrements the counter by one), and returns to the deep sleep mode. The tag sleeps in the deep sleep mode most of its life in an effort to conserve battery power. During the deep sleep mode, because the clock oscillators are OFF, a deep sleep counter is adjusted (incremented or decremented) periodically (e.g., about every 18 ms) by an internal R/C oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20100127845
    Abstract: A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20070135179
    Abstract: An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Gordon Hardman, John Pyne, Molly Hardman, David Przygocki, David Coombs, Paul Wilson, Ronald Grush, Philip Loudin, Brett Floyd
  • Patent number: 7161476
    Abstract: An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd
  • Patent number: 6885296
    Abstract: An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, Paul B. Wilson, David M. Coombs, Brett W. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20040017291
    Abstract: An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, Paul B. Wilson, David M. Coombs, Brett W. Floyd
  • Patent number: 6630885
    Abstract: An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, Paul B. Wilson, David M. Coombs, Brett W. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20020126005
    Abstract: An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, Paul B. Wilson, David M. Coombs, Brett W. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20020075145
    Abstract: An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, filly awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd