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).
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Publication number: 20240003950Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann, Christian Pedersen
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Patent number: 11754607Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 14, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Patent number: 11513256Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Michael Stock, Stan Heckman
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Publication number: 20220163578Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2022Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Patent number: 11249125Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Publication number: 20200209295Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Patent number: 10641806Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Publication number: 20190293701Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Stan Heckman, Donnie Bixler, Eric Hoppmann
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Publication number: 20180321422Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Michael Stock, Stan Heckman
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Publication number: 20180321350Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Patent number: 10018701Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Whisker Labs, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Patent number: 9810811Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
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Publication number: 20170205489Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Patent number: 9702959Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Publication number: 20170090004Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Publication number: 20150134252Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2014Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
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Patent number: 8836518Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
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Publication number: 20130009780Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
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Patent number: 8275548Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Ralph Joseph Markson, Stan Heckman, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu
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Publication number: 20110040483Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2009Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Ralph Joseph Markson, Stan Heckman, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu