Patents by Inventor Stan Heckman

Stan Heckman 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: 20240003950
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann, Christian Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11754607
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 11513256
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for locating lightning activity. A server computing device receives, from a satellite that detects lightning activity occurring in a geographic region, location coordinates and time data associated with lightning activity detected by the satellite. The server captures, from at least one of one or more ground-based lightning sensors that detect lightning activity, lightning feature data for lightning activity detected by the at least one of one or more ground-based lightning sensors. The server computing device determines a location of the lightning activity within the geographic region using the lightning feature data and the location coordinates and time data. The server computing device transmits the determined location of the lightning activity to one or more remote computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Stock, Stan Heckman
  • Publication number: 20220163578
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 11249125
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Publication number: 20200209295
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Patent number: 10641806
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Publication number: 20190293701
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for detecting electrical discharges that precede electrical fires in electrical wiring. One or more sensor devices coupled to a circuit detect one or more signal waveforms generated by electrical activity on the circuit. The sensor devices identify one or more transient signals within the one or more signal waveforms, and generate one or more transient characteristics based upon the identified transient signals. A server communicably coupled to the sensor devices receives the one or more transient characteristics. The server analyzes the one or more transient characteristics to identify one or more electrical discharge indications. The server generates one or more alert signals when one or more electrical discharge indications are identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
  • Publication number: 20180321422
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for locating lightning activity. A server computing device receives, from a satellite that detects lightning activity occurring in a geographic region, location coordinates and time data associated with lightning activity detected by the satellite. The server captures, from at least one of one or more ground-based lightning sensors that detect lightning activity, lightning feature data for lightning activity detected by the at least one of one or more ground-based lightning sensors. The server computing device determines a location of the lightning activity within the geographic region using the lightning feature data and the location coordinates and time data. The server computing device transmits the determined location of the lightning activity to one or more remote computing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Stock, Stan Heckman
  • Publication number: 20180321350
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for remote sensing to derive a calibrated power measurement for a power distribution point. Magnetic field sensors of a sensor module sense a magnetic field emitted by the power distribution point. A first processor generates an uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor, the uncalibrated power measurement derived from the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor and a voltage carried by the power distribution point. A second processor determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to a known power load being drawn through the power distribution point. The second processor derives a transfer function using the response of each magnetic field sensor to the known power load. The second processor applies the transfer function to the uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor to generate the calibrated power measurement for the power distribution point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Patent number: 10018701
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for identifying individual branch circuits coupled to a power distribution point. A sensor module positioned in proximity to the power distribution point and having a plurality of magnetic field sensors senses a magnetic field emitted by each of a plurality of branch circuits coupled to the power distribution point. A processor coupled to the sensor module determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to each of a plurality of changes in power associated with at least one of the plurality of branch circuits. The processor positions the responses of the magnetic field sensors to each change in power on a point in a multidimensional space, where each dimension of the multidimensional space corresponds to a magnetic field sensor. The processor identifies clusters of the points in the multidimensional space, each cluster representing a different branch circuit and having a different vector direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Patent number: 9810811
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for predicting the potential for severe weather. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity, where the data includes lightning flash data. The computing device identifies cells of lighting activity based upon the lightning flash data and determines a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of the cells of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device compares the determined lightning rate to a threshold lightning rate, where the threshold rate is set based upon atmospheric conditions in a location of the cells of lightning activity. The computing device determines one or more geographical areas at risk based on the location, the movement speed, and the movement direction of the cells of lightning activity, and issues an alert to remote devices when the lightning rate exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
  • Publication number: 20170205489
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for identifying individual branch circuits coupled to a power distribution point. A sensor module positioned in proximity to the power distribution point and having a plurality of magnetic field sensors senses a magnetic field emitted by each of a plurality of branch circuits coupled to the power distribution point. A processor coupled to the sensor module determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to each of a plurality of changes in power associated with at least one of the plurality of branch circuits. The processor positions the responses of the magnetic field sensors to each change in power on a point in a multidimensional space, where each dimension of the multidimensional space corresponds to a magnetic field sensor. The processor identifies clusters of the points in the multidimensional space, each cluster representing a different branch circuit and having a different vector direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Patent number: 9702959
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for remote sensing to derive a calibrated power measurement for a power distribution point. Magnetic field sensors of a sensor module sense a magnetic field emitted by the power distribution point. A first processor generates an uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor, the uncalibrated power measurement derived from the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor and a voltage carried by the power distribution point. A second processor determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to a known power load being drawn through the power distribution point. The second processor derives a transfer function using the response of each magnetic field sensor to the known power load. The second processor applies the transfer function to the uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor to generate the calibrated power measurement for the power distribution point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Publication number: 20170090004
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for remote sensing to derive a calibrated power measurement for a power distribution point. Magnetic field sensors of a sensor module sense a magnetic field emitted by the power distribution point. A first processor generates an uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor, the uncalibrated power measurement derived from the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor and a voltage carried by the power distribution point. A second processor determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to a known power load being drawn through the power distribution point. The second processor derives a transfer function using the response of each magnetic field sensor to the known power load. The second processor applies the transfer function to the uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor to generate the calibrated power measurement for the power distribution point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
  • Publication number: 20150134252
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for predicting the potential for severe weather. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity, where the data includes lightning flash data. The computing device identifies cells of lighting activity based upon the lightning flash data and determines a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of the cells of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device compares the determined lightning rate to a threshold lightning rate, where the threshold rate is set based upon atmospheric conditions in a location of the cells of lightning activity. The computing device determines one or more geographical areas at risk based on the location, the movement speed, and the movement direction of the cells of lightning activity, and issues an alert to remote devices when the lightning rate exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
  • Patent number: 8836518
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for predicting the potential for severe weather. Data associated with lightning activity is received by a computing device. A location, a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of one or more cells of lightning activity are determined by the computing device based on the received data. The lightning rate is compared, by the computing device, to a threshold lightning rate. One or more geographical areas at risk are determined by the computing device based on the location, the movement speed and the movement direction of the one or more cells of lightning activity. An alert is issued by the computing device to one or more remote devices monitoring the geographical areas when the lightning exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
  • Publication number: 20130009780
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for predicting the potential for severe weather. Data associated with lightning activity is received by a computing device. A location, a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of one or more cells of lightning activity are determined by the computing device based on the received data. The lightning rate is compared, by the computing device, to a threshold lightning rate. One or more geographical areas at risk are determined by the computing device based on the location, the movement speed and the movement direction of the one or more cells of lightning activity. An alert is issued by the computing device to one or more remote devices monitoring the geographical areas when the lightning exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
  • Patent number: 8275548
    Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for detecting lightning activity. Waveform data indicative of lightning activity is received by a waveform sensor from one or more signal converters. The waveform data comprises a group of electromagnetic waveforms. The waveform data is filtered by a processor to remove noise frequencies. One or more uncompressed portions of the waveform data are transmitted to a processing server. Digital filter data based on the one or more uncompressed portions of waveform data are received from the processing server. One or more frequencies are removed from the waveform data based on the digital filter data. The waveform data is compressed. The compressing includes selecting one or more points on a waveform, wherein the one or more points are above a predetermined threshold. The compressing includes determining an inflection of the selected points based on a predefined algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Ralph Joseph Markson, Stan Heckman, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu
  • Publication number: 20110040483
    Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for detecting lightning activity. Waveform data indicative of lightning activity is received by a waveform sensor from one or more signal converters. The waveform data comprises a group of electromagnetic waveforms. The waveform data is filtered by a processor to remove noise frequencies. One or more uncompressed portions of the waveform data are transmitted to a processing server. Digital filter data based on the one or more uncompressed portions of waveform data are received from the processing server. One or more frequencies are removed from the waveform data based on the digital filter data. The waveform data is compressed. The compressing includes selecting one or more points on a waveform, wherein the one or more points are above a predetermined threshold. The compressing includes determining an inflection of the selected points based on a predefined algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Ralph Joseph Markson, Stan Heckman, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu