Patents by Inventor Steve Conrad

Steve Conrad 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: 9969505
    Abstract: A UAV support vehicle carries a UAV support apparatus for launching and/or recovering a UAV while the UAV support vehicle is moving. The UAV support apparatus releases the UAV during launch and receives the UAV during recovery. An active suspension may be connected between the UAV support vehicle and at least a portion of the UAV support apparatus and reduce motion imparted to that portion of the UAV support apparatus. During UAV recovery, data from a synchronization link between the UAV and the UAV support vehicle may be used to maneuver the UAV and/or the UAV support vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Sandlin McKee, Steve Conrad Roden
  • Patent number: 9615545
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White
  • Publication number: 20160192623
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. RICH, Christopher KAMERY, Marko LUBIC, Wade PATTERSON, Steve CONRAD, Jason S. GURLEY, Terry G. PHILLIPS, John J. WHITE
  • Patent number: 9373242
    Abstract: A system for sensing occurrences of hand washing events includes a dispenser of a hand sanitizing solution and a motion sensor that is coupled to the dispenser. The motion sensor is configured to sense vibrations of the dispenser. When at least a threshold amount of movement is sensed, logic is configured to analyze samples from the motion sensor in order to determine whether the sensed vibrations result from activation of the dispenser. If so, the dispenser activation is logged and reported for use within a system, such as a system for monitoring compliance with a hand washing policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Synapse Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Conrad, David Ewing
  • Publication number: 20160167805
    Abstract: A UAV support vehicle carries a UAV support apparatus for launching and/or recovering a UAV while the UAV support vehicle is moving. The UAV support apparatus releases the UAV during launch and receives the UAV during recovery. An active suspension may be connected between the UAV support vehicle and at least a portion of the UAV support apparatus and reduce motion imparted to that portion of the UAV support apparatus. During UAV recovery, data from a synchronization link between the UAV and the UAV support vehicle may be used to maneuver the UAV and/or the UAV support vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Sandlin McKee, Steve Conrad Roden
  • Patent number: 9101113
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140327542
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. RICH, Christopher KAMERY, Marko LUBIC, Wade PATTERSON, Steve CONRAD, Jason S. GURLEY, Terry G. PHILLIPS, John J. White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8779925
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8297233
    Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Through improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base unit and the collar, errant measurement values are discounted in terms of their contribution to the current estimate of the dog's distance from the base unit. These filtering techniques, in combination with improved signal strength and antenna diversity in the communication between the base unit and the collar, improve the accuracy and consistency with which the dog's distance from the base unit is tracked so that unwanted corrections are not administered to the dog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Wade C. Patterson, Steve Conrad, John J. White, Jr., Jason S. Gurley
  • Publication number: 20110298615
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Christopher Kamery, Marko Lubic, Wade Patterson, Steve Conrad, Jason S. Gurley, Terry G. Phillips, John J. White, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110232585
    Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Through improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base unit and the collar, errant measurement values are discounted in terms of their contribution to the current estimate of the dog's distance from the base unit. These filtering techniques, in combination with improved signal strength and antenna diversity in the communication between the base unit and the collar, improve the accuracy and consistency with which the dog's distance from the base unit is tracked so that unwanted corrections are not administered to the dog.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Wade C. Patterson, Steve Conrad, John J. White, JR., Jason S. Gurley
  • Patent number: 7811151
    Abstract: A toy airplane with foldable wings. The wings can be folded before being launched by a launcher. When the toy airplane is launched the wind pressure maintains the wings in the folded position. When the toy airplane reaches a certain reduced speed, springs of the toy plane move the wings back into an unfolded position. Movement of wings into the unfolded position closes a switch and powers a propeller of the toy plane. The propeller can be powered by a battery within the toy plane fuselage. The combination of a motorized propeller, switch and folded wings provides a toy airplane that minimizes drag during launch and allows for extended flight after launch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Steve Conrad
  • Publication number: 20060264146
    Abstract: A toy airplane with foldable wings. The wings can be folded before being launched by a launcher. When the toy airplane is launched the wind pressure maintains the wings in the folded position. When the toy airplane reaches a certain reduced speed, springs of the toy plane move the wings back into an unfolded position. Movement of wings into the unfolded position closes a switch and powers a propeller of the toy plane. The propeller can be powered by a battery within the toy plane fuselage. The combination of a motorized propeller, switch and folded wings provides a toy airplane that minimizes drag during launch and allows for extended flight after launch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventor: Steve Conrad
  • Patent number: 7018264
    Abstract: A remote controlled toy. The toy includes a powered projectile that can be launched from a remote controlled vehicle. The powered projectile and remote controlled vehicle may each have a motor controlled by a radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter. The projectile can be shaped as an airplane that is loaded into a launch platform of the remote controlled vehicle. The user can control movement of the vehicle with the RF transmitter. The transmitter may have a launch button that is depressed by the user to launch the airplane. While in flight the user can control the airplane through the RF transmitter. The motor of the vehicle may turn off when the airplane is launched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventors: George T. Foster, Joseph Cernansky, Ian B. Osborne, Steve Conrad
  • Publication number: 20040116044
    Abstract: A remote controlled toy. The toy includes a powered projectile that can be launched from a remote controlled vehicle. The powered projectile and remote controlled vehicle may each have a motor controlled by a radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter. The projectile can be shaped as an airplane that is loaded into a launch platform of the remote controlled vehicle. The user can control movement of the vehicle with the RF transmitter. The transmitter may have a launch button that is depressed by the user to launch the airplane. While in flight the user can control the airplane through the RF transmitter. The motor of the vehicle may turn off when the airplane is launched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: George T. Foster, Joseph Cernansky, Ian B. Osborne, Steve Conrad