Patents by Inventor Steven D. Bragg

Steven D. Bragg 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).

  • Light activated configuration of environmentally sealed metering products
    Patent number: 8242449
    Abstract: A metering device and a method for reconfiguring the device to satisfy those regulatory agencies that require that a metering device be disassembled in some way prior to allowing any reconfiguration of the device, but do so without breaking or otherwise affecting the environmental sealing of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Elster Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Marvin C. Baker, Steven D. Bragg
  • Wakeup and interrogation of meter-reading devices using licensed narrowband and unlicensed wideband radio communication
    Patent number: 8203463
    Abstract: A meter data collection system in which a licensed narrowband frequency channel is used to wake up carrier-sensed, battery-powered meter reading devices (MRDs) is disclosed herein. In the meter data collection system disclosed herein, an unlicensed wideband channel is used to transmit data replies from the MRDs to a mobile data collection device. In another embodiment disclosed herein, a meshed network of MRDs communicating on the unlicensed channel is combined with a roaming interrogator that uses the licensed channel to send commands or to perform on-demand reads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC
    Inventors: Steven D. Bragg, Robert W. Yost
  • Light Activated Configuration of Environmentally Sealed Metering Products
    Publication number: 20110248169
    Abstract: A metering device and a method for reconfiguring the device to satisfy those regulatory agencies that require that a metering device be disassembled in some way prior to allowing any reconfiguration of the device, but do so without breaking or otherwise affecting the environmental sealing of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: ELSTER SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Marvin C. Baker, Steven D. Bragg
  • WAKEUP AND INTERROGATION OF METER-READING DEVICES USING LICENSED NARROWBAND AND UNLICENSED WIDEBAND RADIO COMMUNICATION
    Publication number: 20100207784
    Abstract: A meter data collection system in which a licensed narrowband frequency channel is used to wake up carrier-sensed, battery-powered meter reading devices (MRDs) is disclosed herein. In the meter data collection system disclosed herein, an unlicensed wideband channel is used to transmit data replies from the MRDs to a mobile data collection device. In another embodiment disclosed herein, a meshed network of MRDs communicating on the unlicensed channel is combined with a roaming interrogator that uses the licensed channel to send commands or to perform on-demand reads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Elster Electricity, LLC
    Inventors: Steven D. Bragg, Robert W. Yost
  • Two-way wide area telemetry
    Patent number: 7061398
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for two-way telemetry is provided. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may receive data regarding the strength of transmitted signals. The telemetry interface module may transmit a query message to another telemetry interface module and receive a reply message containing received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the query message as received by the other telemetry interface module. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may adjust a transmission power level. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may select between a plurality of antennae for reception and transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems Limited
    Inventors: John K. Holmes, Steven D. Bragg
  • Two-way wide area telemetry
    Publication number: 20030016142
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for two-way telemetry is provided. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may receive data regarding the strength of transmitted signals. The telemetry interface module may transmit a query message to another telemetry interface module and receive a reply message containing received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the query message as received by the other telemetry interface module. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may adjust a transmission power level. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may select between a plurality of antennae for reception and transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: John K. Holmes, Steven D. Bragg