Patents by Inventor Stephen Sai-Wung Ho

Stephen Sai-Wung Ho 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).

  • Patent number: 10509138
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately detecting contact between two objects in a medium comprises at least one sensor for detecting vibration of a first of the two objects and a central processing unit (CPU) for receiving an output of the at least one sensor, wherein the CPU performs the steps: converting the output of the sensor into digital form; during a calibration phase, changing the data from time domain to frequency domain; and during the calibration phase, determining a first frequency range associated with actual contact between the two objects, and a second frequency range associated with a false positive contact between the two objects. A signal processor is provided for filtering all data except that which falls within the first frequency range so as to confirm actual contact between the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jacob Pretorius, Sanjay Sarma, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho
  • Publication number: 20170123086
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately detecting contact between two objects in a medium comprises at least one sensor for detecting vibration of a first of the two objects and a central processing unit (CPU) for receiving an output of the at least one sensor, wherein the CPU performs the steps: converting the output of the sensor into digital form; during a calibration phase, changing the data from time domain to frequency domain; and during the calibration phase, determining a first frequency range associated with actual contact between the two objects, and a second frequency range associated with a false positive contact between the two objects. A signal processor is provided for filtering all data except that which falls within the first frequency range so as to confirm actual contact between the objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Jacob Pretorius, Sanjay Sarma, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho
  • Patent number: 8820143
    Abstract: The system includes structure for supporting at least one tube within a pipe. The tube has one end disposed close to, or in contact with, a wall of the pipe. A sensor is disposed within the at least one tube to detect a pressure gradient or fluid movement within the tube. Such pressure gradient or fluid movement indicates a leak in the pipe adjacent to the tube location. In a preferred embodiment, the structure is a ring sized to fit within the pipe and the ring supports a plurality of tubes. In another aspect, the tube includes a restriction to prevent flow and pressure is measured on each side of the restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sanjay E. Sarma, Kamal Youcef-Toumi, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho, Dimitrios Chatzigeorgiou, Rached Ben Mansour
  • Patent number: 8566010
    Abstract: A communication device for providing road conditions and monitoring congestion, contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of: extracting key current vehicle and/or traffic insight; determining if the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight represents a departure from expected vehicle and/or traffic insight; if the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight is a departure from expected vehicle and/or traffic insight, using the key current vehicle and/or traffic insight to create a smart message, wherein the smart message contains the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight; and if the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight is a confirmation of expected vehicle and/or traffic insight, creating a confirmation message that does not contain the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight, yet confirms similarity between the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight and the expected vehicle and/or traffic ins
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sanjay E. Sarma, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho, Joshua E. Siegel
  • Publication number: 20120255343
    Abstract: The system includes structure for supporting at least one tube within a pipe. The tube has one end disposed close to, or in contact with, a wall of the pipe. A sensor is disposed within the at least one tube to detect a pressure gradient or fluid movement within the tube. Such pressure gradient or fluid movement indicates a leak in the pipe adjacent to the tube location. In a preferred embodiment, the structure is a ring sized to fit within the pipe and the ring supports a plurality of tubes. In another aspect, the tube includes a restriction to prevent flow and pressure is measured on each side of the restriction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sanjay E. Sarma, Kamal Youcef-Toumi, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho, Dimitrios Chatzigeorgiou, Rached Ben Mansour
  • Publication number: 20120065871
    Abstract: A portable communication device for providing road conditions and monitoring traffic congestion for a user contains a device for sensing orientation of the portable communication device, including acceleration and/or deceleration of a vehicle in which the communication device is located, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured by the memory to perform the step of calculating space time series data to determine traffic congestion characteristics, wherein the step of calculating space time series data includes at least one step selected from the group consisting of determining position of the portable communication device as a function of time, determining velocity of the portable communication device as a function of time, and determining acceleration of the portable communication device as a function of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ajay A. Deshpande, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho, Austin L. Oehlerking, Sanjay E. Sarma
  • Publication number: 20110320111
    Abstract: A communication device for providing road conditions and monitoring congestion, contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of: extracting key current vehicle and/or traffic insight; determining if the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight represents a departure from expected vehicle and/or traffic insight; if the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight is a departure from expected vehicle and/or traffic insight, using the key current vehicle and/or traffic insight to create a smart message, wherein the smart message contains the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight; and if the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight is a confirmation of expected vehicle and/or traffic insight, creating a confirmation message that does not contain the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight, yet confirms similarity between the extracted key current vehicle and/or traffic insight and the expected vehicle and/or traffic ins
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technolgoy
    Inventors: Sanjay E. Sarma, Stephen Sai-Wung Ho, Joshua E. Siegel