Patents by Inventor Rodney C. Hemminger
Rodney C. Hemminger 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: 9698865Abstract: Synchronous FHSS networks operating within mesh networks typically require a certain amount of network traffic to maintain time as well as for executing other functions, such as registration and neighbor discovery. The concepts presented in this disclosure provide a mesh network with enhanced communication capabilities without adding significant hardware or firmware costs to nodes within the network. The disclosed concept of using acquisition channels (frequencies) integrated within FHSS pseudo-random sequences speeds network responses to conditions like outage and restoration. Assignment of unique hop sequences by hop level or at time of manufacture can guarantee minimal network contention while minimizing system network traffic.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Elster Solutions, LLCInventors: Robert T. Mason, Jr., Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger, Kuor Hsin Chang
-
Publication number: 20160277066Abstract: Synchronous FHSS networks operating within mesh networks typically require a certain amount of network traffic to maintain time as well as for executing other functions, such as registration and neighbor discovery. The concepts presented in this disclosure provide a mesh network with enhanced communication capabilities without adding significant hardware or firmware costs to nodes within the network. The disclosed concept of using acquisition channels (frequencies) integrated within FHSS pseudo-random sequences speeds network responses to conditions like outage and restoration. Assignment of unique hop sequences by hop level or at time of manufacture can guarantee minimal network contention while minimizing system network traffic.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Robert T. Mason, JR., Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger, Kuor Hsin Chang
-
Patent number: 9362978Abstract: Synchronous FHSS networks operating within mesh networks typically require a certain amount of network traffic to maintain time as well as for executing other functions, such as registration and neighbor discovery. The concepts presented in this disclosure provide a mesh network with enhanced communication capabilities without adding significant hardware or firmware costs to nodes within the network. The disclosed concept of using acquisition channels (frequencies) integrated within FHSS pseudo-random sequences speeds network responses to conditions like outage and restoration. Assignment of unique hop sequences by hop level or at time of manufacture can guarantee minimal network contention while minimizing system network traffic.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Elster Solutions, LLCInventors: Robert T. Mason, Jr., Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger, Kuor Hsin Chang
-
Publication number: 20160112090Abstract: Synchronous FHSS networks operating within mesh networks typically require a certain amount of network traffic to maintain time as well as for executing other functions, such as registration and neighbor discovery. The concepts presented in this disclosure provide a mesh network with enhanced communication capabilities without adding significant hardware or firmware costs to nodes within the network. The disclosed concept of using acquisition channels (frequencies) integrated within FHSS pseudo-random sequences speeds network responses to conditions like outage and restoration. Assignment of unique hop sequences by hop level or at time of manufacture can guarantee minimal network contention while minimizing system network traffic.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Robert T. Mason, JR., Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger, Kuor Hsin Chang
-
Patent number: 9287926Abstract: A digital Radio Frequency (RF) receiver may exhibit image frequencies and these image frequencies may be mathematically related to the intermediate frequency (IF) that is utilized for transmission and reception. In accordance with an embodiment, channel switching may be performed to identify an appropriate receive frequency in the presence of image frequencies on other channels. In accordance with another embodiment, data on a receive channel is evaluated to determine whether the data is inverted, and then appropriate correction may be performed on subsequently received data.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Elster Solutions, LLCInventors: Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger, John R. Holt, Brent Brian
-
Patent number: 9013174Abstract: A bistable relay may include a pair of contact arms. Each contact arm is configured to have a first end and a second end, such that, when the relay is in the closed position, current flows from the first end to the second ends of each of the contact arms, and when the relay is in an open position, current does not flow from the first ends to the second ends of the contact arms. The relay further includes a motor, a pair of springs, a pair of cams driven by the motor, and a linearly actuating member configured to move the contact arms from the first configuration to the second configuration, the member including a cam follower surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Elster Solutions, LLCInventors: Garry M. Loy, Rodney C. Hemminger
-
Patent number: 8861565Abstract: A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for operating a network are disclosed. In particular, methods are disclosed for operating a wireless mesh network to increase the number of frequency channels used by the system without needing to increase the preamble length. According to various embodiments, a wireless mesh network divides the ISM spectrum into two types of channels: acquisition channels and data channels. An acquisition channel is used to transmit a preamble of a communication packet. One or more data channels are used to transmit a data portion of the communication packet.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Elster Solutions, LLCInventors: Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger
-
Patent number: 8791833Abstract: Preferred embodiments of housings for an automatic meter reading device permit the automatic meter reading device to be mounted on a meter such as a water meter, or on a wall remote from the meter. A removable portion of the housing can be separated from a body of the housing when the housing is used to mount the automatic meter reading device on the meter.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2006Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Elster Electricity, LLCInventors: Andrew J. Borleske, Rodney C. Hemminger, Robert T. Mason, Jr., Robert S. Fuller
-
Publication number: 20140098838Abstract: A digital Radio Frequency (RF) receiver may exhibit image frequencies and these image frequencies may be mathematically related to the intermediate frequency (IF) that is utilized for transmission and reception. In accordance with an embodiment, channel switching may be performed to identify an appropriate receive frequency in the presence of image frequencies on other channels. In accordance with another embodiment, data on a receive channel is evaluated to determine whether the data is inverted, and then appropriate correction may be performed on subsequently received data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Inventors: Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger, John R. Holt, Brent Brian
-
Publication number: 20130278245Abstract: A bistable relay may include a pair of contact arms. Each contact arm is configured to have a first end and a second end, such that, when the relay is in the closed position, current flows from the first end to the second ends of each of the contact arms, and when the relay is in an open position, current does not flow from the first ends to the second ends of the contact arms. The relay further includes a motor, a pair of springs, a pair of cams driven by the motor, and a linearly actuating member configured to move the contact arms from the first configuration to the second configuration, the member including a cam follower surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: ELSTER SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Garry M. Loy, Rodney C. Hemminger
-
Publication number: 20130215932Abstract: A wireless mesh network, method, and processor-readable storage medium for operating a network are disclosed. In particular, methods are disclosed for operating a wireless mesh network to increase the number of frequency channels used by the system without needing to increase the preamble length. According to various embodiments, a wireless mesh network divides the ISM spectrum into two types of channels: acquisition channels and data channels. An acquisition channel is used to transmit a preamble of a communication packet. One or more data channels are used to transmit a data portion of the communication packet.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: ELSTER SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Kenneth C. Shuey, Rodney C. Hemminger
-
Patent number: 8320302Abstract: Techniques for over the air (OTA) microcontroller flash memory updates using a wireless network are disclosed herein. A control node first transmits the microcontroller flash memory update to all devices that can receive the message. Each packet of the message is relayed through multiple communication levels until all devices receive the packet. This starts with communications from the control node to each device node that has a direct communication path to the control node, which are referred to herein as “first level” device nodes. The first level device nodes then relay each communication to each other device node that has a direct communication path to the first level device nodes, which are referred to herein as “second level” device nodes. This process is repeated at each level of the wireless network until each of the plurality of device nodes has received the microcontroller flash memory update.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Elster Electricity, LLCInventors: Keith D. Richeson, David Uy, Andrew J. Borleske, Brent R. Brian, Robert T. Mason, Jr., Rodney C. Hemminger, Russell G. Christopher, Raymond Kelley
-
Publication number: 20120126793Abstract: A switch sensor apparatus, an electrical meter, and a method of manufacturing an electrical meter are disclosed herein. A polyphase electrical meter incorporates a number of switch sensor apparatuses that each have a current sensor and a relay arranged relatively perpendicularly to each other and electrically connected via an electrical conductor. The switch sensor apparatuses may be arranged in a compact configuration. In this way, a polyphase meter can provide full service disconnect functionality while remaining sufficiently compact to fit in an ANSI standard housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2010Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: ELSTER SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Garry M. Loy, Rodney C. Hemminger
-
Patent number: 7860672Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring input voltages to meters that are in a wireless metering network. A plurality of entries can be created that include voltage-related information, such as a maximum input voltage or a minimum input voltage. Each meter can further determine whether the input voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold voltage for a duration that might indicate a voltage irregularity in the network. Each meter in the network can be monitored by a collector, which can communicate information to a data collection server.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Elster Electricity, LLCInventors: Keith Richeson, Charlie E. Minton, III, Rodney C. Hemminger, Robert T. Mason, Jr.
-
Patent number: 7821776Abstract: An electrical meter is provided that includes a cover configured for securement onto a base. The meter includes features that resist meter tampering, and features that provide evidence of meter tampering.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Elster Electricity, LLCInventors: Garry M. Loy, Rodney C. Hemminger
-
Patent number: 7656649Abstract: An electric meter comprises an electronics housing and a meter base. The electronics housing defines a front panel and includes a first plurality of option board guides. A main meter board is disposed substantially parallel to the front panel. The meter base defines a rear panel of the electric meter. The meter base includes a plurality of housing guides for receiving the electronics housing and a second plurality of option board guides disposed substantially perpendicularly to the rear panel. The second plurality of option board guides are adapted to receive an option board and to position the option board substantially perpendicularly to the main meter board of the electronics housing during assembly of the electronics housing to the meter base. The housing guides in combination with the first and second pluralities of option board guides enable blind assembly of the electronics housing to the meter base.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Elster Electricity, LLCInventors: Garry M. Loy, Robert T. Mason, Jr., Rodney C. Hemminger, Robert Fuller
-
Publication number: 20090244818Abstract: An electrical meter is provided that includes a cover configured for securement onto a base. The meter includes features that resist meter tampering, and features that provide evidence of meter tampering.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Garry M. Loy, Rodney C. Hemminger
-
Publication number: 20090167291Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring input voltages to meters that are in a wireless metering network. A plurality of entries can be created that include voltage-related information, such as a maximum input voltage or a minimum input voltage. Each meter can further determine whether the input voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold voltage for a duration that might indicate a voltage irregularity in the network. Each meter in the network can be monitored by a collector, which can communicate information to a data collection server.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Keith Richeson, Charlie E. Minton, III, Rodney C. Hemminger, Robert T. Mason, JR.
-
Publication number: 20090168307Abstract: An electric meter comprises an electronics housing and a meter base. The electronics housing defines a front panel and includes a first plurality of option board guides. A main meter board is disposed substantially parallel to the front panel. The meter base defines a rear panel of the electric meter. The meter base includes a plurality of housing guides for receiving the electronics housing and a second plurality of option board guides disposed substantially perpendicularly to the rear panel. The second plurality of option board guides are adapted to receive an option board and to position the option board substantially perpendicularly to the main meter board of the electronics housing during assembly of the electronics housing to the meter base. The housing guides in combination with the first and second pluralities of option board guides enable blind assembly of the electronics housing to the meter base.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Garry M. Loy, Robert T. Mason, JR., Rodney C. Hemminger, Robert Fuller
-
Publication number: 20080259844Abstract: Techniques for over the air (OTA) microcontroller flash memory updates using a wireless network are disclosed herein. A control node first transmits the microcontroller flash memory update to all devices that can receive the message. Each packet of the message is relayed through multiple communication levels until all devices receive the packet. This starts with communications from the control node to each device node that has a direct communication path to the control node, which are referred to herein as “first level” device nodes. The first level device nodes then relay each communication to each other device node that has a direct communication path to the first level device nodes, which are referred to herein as “second level” device nodes. This process is repeated at each level of the wireless network until each of the plurality of device nodes has received the microcontroller flash memory update.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2007Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: Elster Electricity, LLCInventors: Keith D. Richeson, David Uy, Andrew J. Borleske, Brent R. Brian, Robert T. Mason, Rodney C. Hemminger, Russell G. Christopher, Raymond Kelley