Patents by Inventor Sara Jo Woitel
Sara Jo Woitel 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).
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Publication number: 20240089022Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt Alan Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus
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Patent number: 11700075Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: METROM RAIL, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt Alan Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus
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Patent number: 11349589Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: METROM RAIL, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt Alan Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus
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Publication number: 20220140931Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt Alan Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus
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Patent number: 10926783Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection. The worker protection systems comprise a plurality of alert devices, comprising one or more wearable personal alert devices, each worn by a person (e.g., worker), and one or more companion alert devices that broadcast alerts or signals triggering alerts. The companion alert devices comprise vehicle-mounted alert devices, configured for operation on vehicles (e.g., trains), and wayside detection units, configured for placement on or near paths of the vehicles. The wayside detection units may be operable to autonomously detect and track the vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Inventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, Jr.
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Patent number: 10778363Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: METROM RAIL, LLCInventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt Alan Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus
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Patent number: 10737709Abstract: A worker protection system may include a train-mounted unit for use on a train, and one or more wayside units, configured for placement on or near a track traversed by the train. Each of the train-mounted unit and the one or more wayside units may include a corresponding communication component, with one or more antennas, configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals, with the signals comprise ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and one or more circuits configured for processing signals and data, and for performing applications or functions relating to operations of the corresponding unit. The train-mounted unit may operate cooperatively with the one or more wayside units, to provide alerts to one or more workers operating on or near the track, based on communication of the UWB signals with at least one of the one or more wayside units.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Metrom Rail, LLCInventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, Jr.
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Publication number: 20200174110Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for platform intrusion detection. An ultra-wideband (UWB) based platform intrusion detection may include transmitting UWB signals into an area in proximity to a platform, the area that includes one or more tracks; receiving UWB signals within the area; and processing received UWB signals to enable detecting objects within the area. The processing may include identifying received UWB signals corresponding to echoes of the transmitted UWB signal transmitted by the detection devices; detecting based on the echoes of the transmitted UWB signals when an object is present within the area; and assessing the object, wherein assessing the object includes determining when the object represents an intrusion within the area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Richard Carlson, Sara Jo Woitel, Kurt Gunther, John Albert Plutt, JR.
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Publication number: 20200062286Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection. The worker protection systems comprise a plurality of alert devices, comprising one or more wearable personal alert devices, each worn by a person (e.g., worker), and one or more companion alert devices that broadcast alerts or signals triggering alerts. The companion alert devices comprise vehicle-mounted alert devices, configured for operation on vehicles (e.g., trains), and wayside detection units, configured for placement on or near paths of the vehicles. The wayside detection units may be operable to autonomously detect and track the vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, JR.
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Publication number: 20190337545Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt Alan Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus
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Publication number: 20190283787Abstract: A worker protection system may include a train-mounted unit for use on a train, and one or more wayside units, configured for placement on or near a track traversed by the train. Each of the train-mounted unit and the one or more wayside units may include a corresponding communication component, with one or more antennas, configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals, with the signals comprise ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and one or more circuits configured for processing signals and data, and for performing applications or functions relating to operations of the corresponding unit. The train-mounted unit may operate cooperatively with the one or more wayside units, to provide alerts to one or more workers operating on or near the track, based on communication of the UWB signals with at least one of the one or more wayside units.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, JR.
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Publication number: 20190263432Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt Alan Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus
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Patent number: 10336353Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection. The worker protection systems comprise a plurality of alert devices, comprising one or more wearable personal alert devices, each worn by a person (e.g., worker), and one or more companion alert devices that broadcast alerts or signals triggering alerts. The companion alert devices comprise vehicle-mounted alert devices, configured for operation on vehicles (e.g., trains), and wayside detection units, configured for placement on or near paths of the vehicles. The wayside detection units may be operable to autonomously detect and track the vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: METROM RAIL, LLCInventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, Jr.
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Patent number: 10179595Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection. The worker protection systems comprise a plurality of alert devices, comprising one or more wearable personal alert devices, each worn by a person (e.g., worker), and one or more companion alert devices that broadcast alerts or signals triggering alerts. The companion alert devices comprise vehicle-mounted alert devices, configured for operation on vehicles (e.g., trains), and wayside detection units, configured for placement on or near paths of the vehicles. The wayside detection units may be operable to autonomously detect and track the vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: METROM RAIL, LLCInventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, Jr.
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Publication number: 20170282944Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection. The worker protection systems comprise a plurality of alert devices, comprising one or more wearable personal alert devices, each worn by a person (e.g., worker), and one or more companion alert devices that broadcast alerts or signals triggering alerts. The companion alert devices comprise vehicle-mounted alert devices, configured for operation on vehicles (e.g., trains), and wayside detection units, configured for placement on or near paths of the vehicles. The wayside detection units may be operable to autonomously detect and track the vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, JR.
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Publication number: 20160280240Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection. The worker protection systems comprise a plurality of alert devices, comprising one or more wearable personal alert devices, each worn by a person (e.g., worker), and one or more companion alert devices that broadcast alerts or signals triggering alerts. The companion alert devices comprise vehicle-mounted alert devices, configured for operation on vehicles (e.g., trains), and wayside detection units, configured for placement on or near paths of the vehicles. The wayside detection units may be operable to autonomously detect and track the vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Richard Carlson, Kurt Gunther, Sara Jo Woitel, Marc Wayne Cygnus, Peter Strezev, John Albert Plutt, JR.