Patents by Inventor Philip Zumsteg

Philip Zumsteg 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: 10387692
    Abstract: A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable EIR terminal can be configured, responsive to successfully reading a plurality of RFID tags attached to a plurality of items sustained by a physical structure, to group the plurality of read RFID tags into zero or more clusters, by correlating quantities of RFID tags read within several time periods to spatial positions of the coverage shapes of the RF signals transmitted by the RFID reading device during the several time periods. The EIR terminal can be further configured to determine the spatial positions of the RFID signal coverage shapes based on the spatial positions and orientations of the portable EIR terminal during the several time periods. The EIR terminal can be further configured to display a quantity of RFID tags within each cluster overlaid over an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 10248817
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and software are disclosed for reading RFID tags located in defined spatial locations. In one illustrative embodiment, a system can comprise a processor, a memory, and an RFID reading device including at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna. The system can be configured to read a first plurality of RFID tags attached to items disposed within a first spatial zone and read a second plurality of RFID tags attached to items disposed within a second spatial zone. The system can be further configured to produce a list of identifiers of RFID tags which belong to the second plurality of RFID tags and do not belong to the first plurality of RFID tags. In some embodiments, the system can be further configured, responsive to successfully decoding decodable indicia attached to an item, to match the item to an RFID tag belonging to the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip Zumsteg, Huyu Qu
  • Patent number: 10127414
    Abstract: A system and method of adjusting the transmission strength emitted by an integrated RFID reader. The system may stores the location of the RFID when moved proximate to an object as a point of origin. When the RFID reader moves relative to the point of origin, the system may determine the distance of the RFID reader from the point of origin and may adjust the power level of the RFID reader relative to this distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 10037510
    Abstract: A method of mapping the location of at least one object in three dimensional space, relative to an initial point in three dimensional space by an EIR terminal which contains a microprocessor, memory, a scanning device, a motion sensing device, and a communication interface. The method includes scanning a signal of decodable indicia located at a pre-defined area of a physical object, locating the decodable indicia within this signal, decoding the decodable indicia into a decoded message. The decoded message is an identifier for said physical object, which is then displayed. After receiving an interface command, the EIR terminal is placed in mechanical contact with the pre-defined area of the physical object and a first spatial position is stored as a point of origin in the EIR terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip Zumsteg, Tom Plocher, Sriharsha Putrevu, Joseph Vargas
  • Patent number: 10025968
    Abstract: A system and method of determining an initial point for a scan path may include acquiring, using a mobile device, an image of an object, the image comprising decodable indicia. Using the mobile device, data is decoded from the decodable indicia. Indicia dimensions of the decodable indicia are determined based on the data, and image dimensions of the decodable indicia in the image are determined. An initial location of the mobile device is calculated relative to the decodable indicia based on a geometric relationship between the indicia dimensions of the decodable indicia and the image dimensions of the decodable indicia in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Publication number: 20180129830
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and software are disclosed for reading RFID tags located in defined spatial locations. In one illustrative embodiment, a system can comprise a processor, a memory, and an RFID reading device including at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna. The system can be configured to read a first plurality of RFID tags attached to items disposed within a first spatial zone and read a second plurality of RFID tags attached to items disposed within a second spatial zone. The system can be further configured to produce a list of identifiers of RFID tags which belong to the second plurality of RFID tags and do not belong to the first plurality of RFID tags. In some embodiments, the system can be further configured, responsive to successfully decoding decodable indicia attached to an item, to match the item to an RFID tag belonging to the list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip ZUMSTEG, Huyu QU
  • Patent number: 9892289
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and software are disclosed for reading RFID tags located in defined spatial locations. In one illustrative embodiment, a system can comprise a processor, a memory, and an RFID reading device including at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna. The system can be configured to read a first plurality of RFID tags attached to items disposed within a first spatial zone and read a second plurality of RFID tags attached to items disposed within a second spatial zone. The system can be further configured to produce a list of identifiers of RFID tags which belong to the second plurality of RFID tags and do not belong to the first plurality of RFID tags. In some embodiments, the system can be further configured, responsive to successfully decoding decodable indicia attached to an item, to match the item to an RFID tag belonging to the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip Zumsteg, Huyu Qu
  • Publication number: 20170185818
    Abstract: A system and method of determining an initial point for a scan path may include acquiring, using a mobile device, an image of an object, the image comprising decodable indicia. Using the mobile device, data is decoded from the decodable indicia. Indicia dimensions of the decodable indicia are determined based on the data, and image dimensions of the decodable indicia in the image are determined. An initial location of the mobile device is calculated relative to the decodable indicia based on a geometric relationship between the indicia dimensions of the decodable indicia and the image dimensions of the decodable indicia in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip ZUMSTEG
  • Patent number: 9652736
    Abstract: A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable RFID reading terminal can be configured to display a scan trace provided by a line comprising a plurality of time varying points. Each point can be defined by a projection of a radio frequency (RF) signal coverage shape of the RFID reading device onto a chosen plane at a given moment in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Vargas, Tom Plocher, Ynjiun Paul Wang, Sriharsha Putrevu, Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 9652734
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a motion sensing device, a communication interface; and a processor. The processor may receive a point of origin that corresponds to a spatial position of the apparatus. The processor may determine, responsive to detecting a user interface command and based on a plurality of values received from the motion sensing device, a spatial position of the apparatus relative to the point of origin, and to acquire an image of an object in a field of view of the apparatus. The processor may also determine a scale factor of the image based on at least the spatial position of the apparatus relative to the point of origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip Zumsteg, Tom Plocher, Sriharsha Putrevu
  • Publication number: 20170109692
    Abstract: A method of mapping the location of at least one object in three dimensional space, relative to an initial point in three dimensional space by an EIR terminal which contains a microprocessor, memory, a scanning device, a motion sensing device, and a communication interface. The method includes scanning a signal of decodable indicia located at a pre-defined area of a physical object, locating the decodable indicia within this signal, decoding the decodable indicia into a decoded message. The decoded message is an identifier for said physical object, which is then displayed. After receiving an interface command, the EIR terminal is placed in mechanical contact with the pre-defined area of the physical object and a first spatial position is stored as a point of origin in the EIR terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip ZUMSTEG, Tom PLOCHER, Sriharsha PUTREVU, Joseph VARGAS
  • Patent number: 9619683
    Abstract: A method of reading RFID tags may include providing a device that can read barcodes and RFID tags. The barcodes may be attached to an object and respectively having a predetermined sequential read order. While reading the barcodes in the predetermined sequential read order, outputting an interrogation signal to RFID tags so that the RFID tags can be read while the barcode reader moves to sequentially read the barcodes in the predetermined sequential order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 9607184
    Abstract: An RFID reading terminal can be configured, responsive to receiving a user interface action, to capture an image of at least one part of a physical structure sustaining a plurality of inventory items, locate and decode optical decodable indicia into a message comprising an identifier of the physical structure. The RFID reading terminal can be further configured to retrieve from a database, using the identifier of the physical structure, a reference image and/or a description of the physical structure. The portable RFID reading terminal can be further configured, while being moved to follow an imaginary trajectory within the physical structure, to repetitively capture an image of the physical structure using the imaging device, determine orientation and the current spatial position of the RFID reading terminal relative to the physical structure responsive to identifying one or more objects within each captured image, and displaying the RFID scan trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 9594939
    Abstract: A system and method of determining an initial point for a scan path may include acquiring, using a mobile device, an image of an object, the image comprising decodable indicia. Using the mobile device, data is decoded from the decodable indicia. Indicia dimensions of the decodable indicia are determined based on the data, and image dimensions of the decodable indicia in the image are determined. An initial location of the mobile device is calculated relative to the decodable indicia based on a geometric relationship between the indicia dimensions of the decodable indicia and the image dimensions of the decodable indicia in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 9569945
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a plurality of fire detectors distributed throughout a secured geographic area, a monitoring panel that detects a status of each of the plurality of fire detectors and saves a status indicator of the fire detector indicating one of normal, alarm, and fault into a memory along with a time value, an alarm processor of the monitoring panel that detects alarm signals from the plurality of fire detectors and presents respective indicators of the activated fire detectors on a geographic map of the secured area shown on a display, and a fire progression processor that displays an indicator of a progression of a fire on the map of the display based upon the status indicators saved in memory and upon a correlation between a status indicator of alarm in a previous time period and a status indicator of fault in a more recent time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Philip Zumsteg, Andrew G. Berezowski
  • Publication number: 20170039403
    Abstract: A system and method of adjusting the transmission strength emitted by an integrated RFID reader. The system may stores the location of the RFID when moved proximate to an object as a point of origin. When the RFID reader moves relative to the point of origin, the system may determine the distance of the RFID reader from the point of origin and may adjust the power level of the RFID reader relative to this distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip ZUMSTEG
  • Publication number: 20170011335
    Abstract: A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable RFID reading terminal can be configured to display a scan trace provided by a line comprising a plurality of time varying points. Each point can be defined by a projection of a radio frequency (RF) signal coverage shape of the RFID reading device onto a chosen plane at a given moment in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph VARGAS, Tom PLOCHER, Ynjiun Paul WANG, Sriharsha PUTREVU, Philip ZUMSTEG
  • Patent number: 9536219
    Abstract: A method of mapping the location of at least one object in three dimensional space, relative to an initial point in three dimensional space by an EIR terminal which contains a microprocessor, memory, a scanning device, a motion sensing device, and a communication interface. The method includes scanning a signal of decodable indicia located at a pre-defined area of a physical object, locating the decodable indicia within this signal, decoding the decodable indicia into a decoded message. The decoded message is an identifier for said physical object, which is then displayed. After receiving an interface command, the EIR terminal is placed in mechanical contact with the pre-defined area of the physical object and a first spatial position is stored as a point of origin in the EIR terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Philip Zumsteg, Tom Plocher, Sriharsha Putrevu, Joseph Vargas
  • Patent number: 9471813
    Abstract: A system and method of adjusting the transmission strength emitted by an integrated RFID reader. The system may stores the location of the RFID when moved proximate to an object as a point of origin. When the RFID reader moves relative to the point of origin, the system may determine the distance of the RFID reader from the point of origin and may adjust the power level of the RFID reader relative to this distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Philip Zumsteg
  • Patent number: 9454685
    Abstract: A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable RFID reading terminal can be configured to display a scan trace provided by a line comprising a plurality of time varying points. Each point can be defined by a projection of a radio frequency (RF) signal coverage shape of the RFID reading device onto a chosen plane at a given moment in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Vargas, Tom Plocher, Ynjiun Paul Wang, Sriharsha Putrevu, Philip Zumsteg