Patents by Inventor Ronald Straz

Ronald Straz 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: 12438274
    Abstract: An improved cargo tracking device which includes a main housing unit which can be secured to a roof or wall of a given cargo container using securing wings. The main housing of the tracking device of the present invention may preferably include a patch antenna and a front face/surface which extends out from the main horizontal plane of the tracking device and which includes an opening for the insertion/attachment of a solar panel array. According to further preferred embodiments, the solar panel of the present invention may preferably be electrically connected to the main circuit board via one or more electronic chokes which are preferably tuned to remove selected RF frequencies transmitted/received by the patch antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: ORBCOMM INC.
    Inventors: Phil Lafleur, Ronald Straz
  • Patent number: 12370951
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cargo imaging device which allows for asset IR illumination and monitoring of the interior of a closed cargo container. According to a first preferred embodiment, the imaging device of the present invention includes a housing which encloses a central lens. The central lens is preferably located between an upper IR light guide and a lower IR light guide. Preferably, the central lens may be formed as a fish-eye lens. Still further, the imaging device of the present invention may preferably further include a BLE transmitter and antenna arrangement which may include an inverted-F BLE antenna and a BLE booster ring surrounding the lens to assist the inverted-F BLE antenna to transmit and receive signals between the cargo interior and the BLE antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: ORBCOMM, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Sherwood, Brian Hart, Ronald Straz, Phil Lafleur
  • Patent number: 12366647
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method which allow for the rapid and reliable identification of towed trailers parked together in loading areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: ORBCOMM, INC.
    Inventors: Phil Lafleur, Ronald Straz
  • Patent number: 12200333
    Abstract: A system and method for frost detection and frost mitigation for an imaging device within a container interior. According to a first preferred embodiment, the system preferably may include an imaging device having one or more LED light sources for illuminating the container interior. According to a preferred embodiment, the system may preferably first receive digital images from the imaging device along with one or more detected sensor inputs. Thereafter, the system may preferably calculate the potential for frost on or around the imaging device based on one or more sensor inputs which may include the imaging device temperature in combination with a door open signal, a detected light level or the like. The system may then preferably analyze the digital images during times of likely frost events using a frost detection algorithm which detects the presence of frost based on image characteristics derived from previously captured images with known frost levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ORBCOMM, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Sherwood, Ronald Straz
  • Patent number: 12192870
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved network architecture which allows for many unique and specific interactions between LoRa networked devices, while still maintaining the security, range and low energy benefits of LoRa and LoRaWAN networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: ORBCOMM, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Lafleur, Ronald Straz, Guenther Kramer
  • Patent number: 9558602
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for a smart switch are provided. The smart switch may be integrated into various types of security devices and intelligently protect the devices from unwanted manipulation. In one particular embodiment, the smart switch may use location information from a GPS receiver to determine whether the device is in a safe zone, and the smart switch may intelligently enable or disable certain changes of the current operational status of the security device. Alternatively, pre-set time period, RFID authorization, environmental factors, or a combination of several factors may be used by the smart switch to determine whether users may change the operational status of the security device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GlobalTrak, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Straz
  • Patent number: 8874734
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for managing energy conservation in a mesh network of smart container monitoring system is provided. The monitoring unit and the monitored devices within each smart container form a first-tier network, and the smart containers in vicinity are wirelessly connected to form a second-tier mesh network. Each tier of network awakens per a defined procedure to allow for establishment of communication for a short amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: GlobalTrak, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Straz