Patents by Inventor Scott Stephens

Scott Stephens 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).

  • Publication number: 20250333021
    Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20250305303
    Abstract: An attachable finger-moistening device is provided. The device is designed to assist in moistening a finger for caulking applications. The device comprises a body with an interior space designed to hold a sponge saturated with a compound such as water, soap, or a combination thereof. The device features an opening in one side wall with a lip to prevent dripping and allows for finger insertion to moisten a finger on the saturated sponge. Additionally, the device can be attached to a belt via a fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventor: Scott Stephens
  • Patent number: 12370976
    Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Patent number: 11977177
    Abstract: There is provided a subject location system, including a master processing unit, a receiver, and at least one Tag associated with the subject. The system includes a Hub with a master processing unit and the Tag includes transponders. Range and phase data are used to calculate the position of the Tag in relation to the Hub, and phase cycle errors are eliminated by, the use of a cyclical search minimizing an innovation inner product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventors: Eric Derbez, Scott Stephens
  • Patent number: 11833997
    Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20230303033
    Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Patent number: 11656315
    Abstract: A system and method can determine the position of a tag antenna relative to a plurality of spaced apart fixed base antennae using ultrawideband signals by using an angle of arrival determined by time of arrival of an ultrawideband signal from the tag antenna to disambiguate a differential phase angle of arrival measured from the differential phase of the ultrawideband signal between the two base antennae. Accordingly, a non-ambiguous phase angle of arrival of the ultrawideband signal from the tag antenna may be used with a range of the tag antenna measured by one or more methods including by 2-way time of flight, to determine the position of the tag antenna relative to the base antennae. The system and method can also use a plurality of pairs of antennae to determine a 3D position of the tag antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: XCO Tech Inc
    Inventors: Scott Stephens, Scott Mcmillan, Maik Wolleben
  • Publication number: 20220113372
    Abstract: There is provided a subject location system, including a master processing unit, a receiver, and at least one Tag associated with the subject. The system includes a Hub with a master processing unit and the Tag includes transponders. Range and phase data are used to calculate the position of the Tag in relation to the Hub, and phase cycle errors are eliminated by, the use of a cyclical search minimizing an innovation inner product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: XCO Tech Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Derbez, Scott Stephens
  • Patent number: 10585159
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. A phase difference of received information signals of illuminated RFID tags is utilized to locate the RFID tags. One or more exciters transmit interrogation signals to illuminate the RFID tags in which the exciters may have a plurality of antenna selectively configured to transmit through two or more antennas and to receive on one antenna. Multiple reads of the same RFID tag can also be performed to generate a probability model of the location of the RFID tag. An enhanced particle filter is applied to probability model to determine the exact location of the RFID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Mojix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Sadr, Scott Stephens, Christopher Richard Jones
  • Publication number: 20200041603
    Abstract: A system and method can determine the position of a tag antenna relative to a plurality of spaced apart fixed base antennae using ultrawideband signals by using an angle of arrival determined by time of arrival of an ultrawideband signal from the tag antenna to disambiguate a differential phase angle of arrival measured from the differential phase of the ultrawideband signal between the two base antennae. Accordingly, a non-ambiguous phase angle of arrival of the ultrawideband signal from the tag antenna may be used with a range of the tag antenna measured by one or more methods including by 2-way time of flight, to determine the position of the tag antenna relative to the base antennae. The system and method can also use a plurality of pairs of antennae to determine a 3D position of the tag antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: XCO Tech Inc.
    Inventors: Scott STEPHENS, Scott MCMILLAN, Maik WOLLEBEN
  • Patent number: 10534064
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. A phase difference of received information signals of illuminated RFID tags is utilized to locate the RFID tags. One or more exciters transmit interrogation signals to illuminate the RFID tags in which the exciters may have a plurality of antenna selectively configured to transmit through two or more antennas and to receive on one antenna. Multiple reads of the same RFID tag can also be performed to generate a probability model of the location of the RFID tag. An enhanced particle filter is applied to probability model to determine the exact location of the RFID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mojix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Sadr, Scott Stephens, Christopher Richard Jones
  • Publication number: 20190018101
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. A phase difference of received information signals of illuminated RFID tags is utilized to locate the RFID tags. One or more exciters transmit interrogation signals to illuminate the RFID tags in which the exciters may have a plurality of antenna selectively configured to transmit through two or more antennas and to receive on one antenna. Multiple reads of the same RFID tag can also be performed to generate a probability model of the location of the RFID tag. An enhanced particle filter is applied to probability model to determine the exact location of the RFID.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Mojix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Sadr, Scott Stephens, Christopher Richard Jones
  • Patent number: 10059304
    Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, techniques are disclosed for capturing and analyzing images of driver's licenses to assess a validity for the driver's licenses in support of various rental transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Ryan C. Flynn, Jerome V. Schmitt, Tom McAliney
  • Publication number: 20160161590
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. A phase difference of received information signals of illuminated RFID tags is utilized to locate the RFID tags. One or more exciters transmit interrogation signals to illuminate the RFID tags in which the exciters may have a plurality of antenna selectively configured to transmit through two or more antennas and to receive on one antenna. Multiple reads of the same RFID tag can also be performed to generate a probability model of the location of the RFID tag. An enhanced particle filter is applied to probability model to determine the exact location of the RFID.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Mojix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Sadr, Scott Stephens, Christopher Richard Jones
  • Patent number: 9291699
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. A phase difference of received information signals of illuminated RFID tags is utilized to locate the RFID tags. One or more exciters transmit interrogation signals to illuminate the RFID tags in which the exciters may have a plurality of antenna selectively configured to transmit through two or more antennas and to receive on one antenna. Multiple reads of the same RFID tag can also be performed to generate a probability model of the location of the RFID tag. An enhanced particle filter is applied to probability model to determine the exact location of the RFID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mojix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Sadr, Scott Stephens, Christopher Jones
  • Publication number: 20140278607
    Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, a technique for performing an automated pickup of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for performing an automated return administration of a rental vehicle using a mobile device is disclosed. As another example, a technique for permitting customer to select a particular rental vehicle for a rental vehicle transaction using a mobile device is disclosed. Also disclosed is a technique for permitting a customer to keylessly start a rental vehicle using a machine-sensible item such as his/her mobile device without requiring the customer to possess a smart key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Derik Reiser
  • Publication number: 20140278555
    Abstract: A number of techniques are disclosed for making it more convenient and efficient for customers to conduct various rental vehicle transactions. As an example, techniques are disclosed for capturing and analyzing images of driver's licenses to assess a validity for the driver's licenses in support of various rental transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Johnson, Scott Stephens, Dave G. Smith, Neil Fitzgerald, Ryan C. Flynn, Jerome V. Schmitt, Tom McAliney
  • Publication number: 20140203914
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided. A phase difference of received information signals of illuminated RFID tags is utilized to locate the RFID tags. One or more exciters transmit interrogation signals to illuminate the RFID tags in which the exciters may have a plurality of antenna selectively configured to transmit through two or more antennas and to receive on one antenna. Multiple reads of the same RFID tag can also be performed to generate a probability model of the location of the RFID tag. An enhanced particle filter is applied to probability model to determine the exact location of the RFID.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Mojix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Sadr, Scott Stephens, Christopher Jones
  • Patent number: 8706424
    Abstract: A system for estimating gas concentrations in a mixed atmosphere includes (a) a plurality of sensors for providing a set of measurements, at least one of the sensors sensitive to an internal concentration of hydrogen; and (b) a processor for receiving the set of measurements and for executing a sequential estimation filter that includes a plurality of states having a corresponding set of values. The processor responsively adjusts at least a portion of the set of values in response to the set of measurements. The plurality of sensors can include a resistive sensor and a capacitive gas sensor, both of which are sensitive to hydrogen concentration. The plurality of states can include states representative of hydrogen pressure in the mixed atmosphere, hydrogen concentration in a bulk material of at least one of the sensors, and hydrogen concentration in an interface layer of at least one of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: H2Scan Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Stephens
  • Patent number: D860042
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Scott Stephens