Patents by Inventor Stephen Pollack
Stephen Pollack 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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Patent number: 6498991Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a hose (100) including an inner liner (104) and a carcass (106) having at least one ply (108a, 108b, 108c, 108d or 108e) disposed in surrounding relationship with the inner liner (104) and an outer cover (300) about the carcass (106). The monitoring apparatus includes an electronic hose tag (310) connected to the hose (100) for measuring the vibration of the hose. In another embodiment, the hose includes at least one sensing element (112) helically wound about the inner liner (104) and an inner sensing element monitoring circuit (404) with a microprocessor (500) connected thereto for determining whether there is a discontinuity in the inner sensing element (112) and thus a worn through area of the inner liner (104). An alarm signal can be transmitted with transmitter structure (430) to a remote receiver (654).Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: John Roux Phelan, Richard Stephen Pollack
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Patent number: 6486776Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transponder (200) capable of measuring parameters associated with an object and transmitting data to an external reader/interrogator (106, 400). In use with a pneumatic tire (104), the transponder measures temperature and pressure within the tire. The transponder includes circuitry (226) for controlling windows of time (WT and WP) during which real-time temperature and pressure measurements are made, and for storing (236) calibration data, transponder ID number and the like, and for transmitting this information in a data stream (FIG. 3C) to the reader/interrogator. An excessive temperature condition may also be sensed (MTMS 218) and included in the data stream. The circuitry of the transponder is preferably implemented on a single IC chip (204), using CMOS technology, with few components external to the IC chip. The transponder is preferably passive, deriving its operating power from an RF signal provided by the exernal reader/interrogator.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Richard Stephen Pollack, Donald Lee Black, Dale Lee Yones, Robert Walter Brown
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Publication number: 20020140574Abstract: A system for monitoring at least one tire condition value in each of a plurality of pneumatic tires of a moving vehicle, wherein each of the tires has associated therewith a passive electronic tire tag for sensing the at least one tire condition value and is responsive to an interrogation signal transmitted thereto to transmit a data modulated signal representative of the at least one tire condition value. The monitoring system includes portable ramp apparatus for supporting the moving vehicle, portable vehicle sensing apparatus for sensing the presence of the moving vehicle and tire pressure sensing apparatus embedded in the ramp apparatus for detecting the presence thereon of a vehicle tire on the ramp apparatus. In addition, the monitoring system includes transmitter antenna structure and receiver antenna structure respectively embedded in the ramp apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventors: Gene Raymond Starkey, Richard Stephen Pollack, Joseph Michael Letkomiller
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Patent number: 6412977Abstract: A temperature-sensor is implemented with a temperature-sensitive component of an IC chip which functions as a radio frequency transponder capable of measuring parameters associated with an object and transmitting data to an external reader/interrogator. In use with a pneumatic tire, the transponder measures temperature and pressure within the tire. The transponder includes circuitry for controlling windows of time during which real-time temperature and pressure measurements are made, and for storing calibration data, transponder ID number and the like, and for transmitting this information in a data stream to the reader/interrogator. An excessive temperature condition may also be sensed and included in the data stream.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2000Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Donald Lee Black, Robert Walter Brown, Richard Stephen Pollack, Dale Lee Yones
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Patent number: 6400261Abstract: A method of monitoring at least one tire condition value of each of a plurality of tires of a moving vehicle, with a monitoring system. Each of the tires has an electronic tire tag for sensing the tire condition value of the associated tire. The monitoring system has vehicle sensing apparatus, ramp apparatus, tire sensing apparatus, transceiver apparatus and computer apparatus removably electrically connected thereto and to the vehicle sensing apparatus and tire sensing apparatus. The method comprises the steps of determining whether the vehicle sensing apparatus has sensed the moving vehicle on the ramp apparatus supporting the moving vehicle. In addition the method includes the steps of determining whether respective tires of the moving vehicle have been sensed by the tire sensing apparatus, and transmitting an interrogation signal when the tire sensing apparatus senses at least one tire.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2001Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Gene Raymond Starkey, Richard Stephen Pollack, Joseph Michael Letkomiller
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Patent number: 6388636Abstract: Circuit modules having one, two or three double-sided printed circuit boards (PCBs). Each PCB can have coils formed as spiral traces on both sides thereof. The coils can all be connected together, in series or in parallel, to function as a coil antenna. Alternatively, selected ones of the spiral traces can be connected to function as one winding of a transformer, the other coils functioning as another winding of the transformer and connected to an external antenna. Electronic components can be mounted to a lower one of the PCBs, and in embodiments having two or three PCBs, the PCB overlying the lower PCB has a central opening to accommodate the electronic components. A ferrite rod antenna may be disposed in the opening, aligned parallel to the PCBs, to provide a dual-directional antenna system.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2001Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Robert Walter Brown, Richard Stephen Pollack, Joseph Michael Letkomiller
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Patent number: 6369712Abstract: A response-adjustable temperature sensor (306, Rext), particularly for a transponder (102, 200, 400) capable of measuring one or more parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure) and transmitting a data stream (FIGS. 3C, 4B) to an external reader/interrogator (106). The transponder typically operates in a passive mode, deriving its power (Vxx, Vcc, Vdd) from an RF interrogation signal received by an antenna system (210, 410), but can also operate in a battery-powered active mode. The transponder includes memory (238, 438) for storing measurements, calibration data, programmable trim settings (436b), transponder ID and the like.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Joseph Michael Letkomiller, Dale Lee Yones, Richard Stephen Pollack
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Publication number: 20020027531Abstract: Circuit modules having one, two or three double-sided printed circuit boards (PCBs). Each PCB can have coils formed as spiral traces on both sides thereof. The coils can all be connected together, in series or in parallel, to function as a coil antenna. Alternatively, selected ones of the spiral traces can be connected to function as one winding of a transformer, the other coils functioning as another winding of the transformer and connected to an external antenna. Electronic components can be mounted to a lower one of the PCBs, and in embodiments having two or three PCBs, the PCB overlying the lower PCB has a central opening to accommodate the electronic components. A ferrite rod antenna may be disposed in the opening, aligned parallel to the PCBs, to provide a dual-directional antenna system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2001Publication date: March 7, 2002Inventors: Robert Walter Brown, Richard Stephen Pollack, Joseph Michael Letkomiller
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Patent number: 6307467Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic tag (60) that includes a transponder (62) and a micro-mechanical temperature memory switch (MTMS) (16a) having an unlatched state (24a) and latched state (26a) and a method of resetting the MTMS (16a). The method includes the step of providing second apparatus (68, 72) for providing a second D.C. signal (73) and an electronic switching circuit (67) for receiving the first and second D.C. signals (48a, 73). The electronic switching circuit (67) is connected for normally applying the first D.C. signal (48a) to the logic circuit (50a) and for diverting the first D.C. signal (48a) therefrom to the MTMS (16a) for resetting the MTMS (16a) in response to receiving the second D.C. signal (73).Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Gene Raymond Starkey, Richard Stephen Pollack
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Process and apparatus for resetting a directly resettable micro-mechanical temperature memory switch
Patent number: 6307477Abstract: A process and apparatus for resetting a directly resettable micro-mechanical temperature memory switch (MTMS) (16e) having an unlatched state (24e) and latched state (26e) in an electronic tire tag (90). The resetting process includes providing the electronic tire tag (90) with a radio frequency RF antenna (102) directly electrically connected to the MTMS (16e) for applying thereto an RF signal 104 having a predetermined frequency f2; and providing transmitter structure (66e) for transmitting to the antenna (102) an RF signal (94) having the predetermined frequency (f2). The process includes disposing the tag within a tire and resetting the MTMS to the unlatched state subsequent to the tire reaching a predetermined temperature to cause the MTMS to go into the latched state.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Gene Raymond Starkey, Richard Stephen Pollack -
Patent number: 6304232Abstract: Circuit modules having one, two or three double-sided printed circuit boards (PCBs). Each PCB can have coils formed as spiral traces on both sides thereof. The coils can all be connected together, in series or in parallel, to function as a coil antenna. Alternatively, selected ones of the spiral traces can be connected to function as one winding of a transformer, the other coils functioning as another winding of the transformer and connected to an external antenna. Electronic components can be mounted to a lower one of the PCBs, and in embodiments having two or three PCBs, the PCB overlying the lower PCB has a central opening to accommodate the electronic components. A ferrite rod antenna may be disposed in the opening, aligned parallel to the PCBs, to provide a dual-directional antenna system.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Robert Walter Brown, Richard Stephen Pollack, Joseph Michael Letkomiller
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Publication number: 20010004236Abstract: A response-adjustable temperature sensor (306, Rext), particularly for a transponder (102, 200, 400) capable of measuring one or more parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure) and transmitting a data stream (FIGS. 3C, 4B) to an external reader/interrogator (106). The transponder typically operates in a passive mode, deriving its power (Vxx, Vcc, Vdd) from an RF interrogation signal received by an antenna system (210, 410), but can also operate in a battery-powered active mode. The transponder includes memory (238, 438) for storing measurements, calibration data, programmable trim settings (436b), transponder ID and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: June 21, 2001Inventors: Joseph Michael Letkomiller, Dale Lee Yones, Richard Stephen Pollack