Patents by Inventor Steven T. Awiszus
Steven T. Awiszus 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: 11260251Abstract: A system including a head-mounted device having a face shield; a respirator coupled to or embodied in the head mounted device; a light having a light intensity; a light detector, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one light detector that receive from the light detector data indicting a type and intensity of light, and determine that the light matches a particular type of light and whether it exceeds a threshold, and on the basis of this determination, modifies the intensity of the light.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Eric C. Lobner, Robert J. Quintero, Micayla A. Johnson, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Britton G. Billingsley
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Patent number: 11263568Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of hearing protection assigned to a worker, and a portable computing device assigned to the worker; a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the portable computing device, the remote computing device configured to receive sound level data that indicate different sound levels at different, respective locations of a work environment; determine, based on location data received from the portable computing device, an amount of sound received by the worker over a period of time; identify an updated location in the work environment having a sound level that is different from a current location, based at least in part on the article of hearing protection, the amount of sound, and the sound level data that indicates different sound levels at different, respective locations; and generate a notification that instructs the worker to move from the current location to the updated location.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2017Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven R. Digre, Darcey L. Holloway, Eric C. Lobner, Ted K. Madison, Philip J. Savoie, Pageen S. Smith, Lauraine L. Wells, Michael G. Wurm, Cameron J. Fackler, James D. Brown, Matthew J. Blackford, Steven T. Awiszus, Elliott H. Berger
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Publication number: 20220054869Abstract: A system includes a negative pressure reusable respirator configured to be worn by a worker and to cover at least a mouth and a nose of the worker, a sensor configured to generate sensor data indicative of a characteristic of air within a work environment, and at least one computing device. The negative pressure reusable respirator includes at least one contaminant capture device configured to remove contaminants from air as the air is drawn through the contaminant capture device when the worker inhales. The at least one contaminant capture device is configured to be removable from the negative pressure reusable respirator. The at least one computing device configured to determine whether the at least one contaminant capture device is due for replacement, and perform one or more actions in response to determining the at least one contaminant capture device is due for replacement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: David R. Stein, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Craig E. Colton, Steven T. Awiszus, Shane A. Hainey, Richard C. Webb, Scott A. Larson, Andrew W. Long, Daniel B. Taylor
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Publication number: 20220040507Abstract: There is provided a computing device comprising: at least one processor; and a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive data indicative of a gas characteristic in a sealed space formed by a face of the wearer and a negative pressure reusable respirator; determine performance of a respirator seal check by the wearer; determine that the negative pressure reusable respirator is being worn by a wearer; perform one or more actions in response to determining that the respirator is being worn by the wearer and the wearer has not performed a respirator seal check that satisfies one or more safety rules; and alter the one or more actions in response to determining that the negative pressure reusable respirator is being worn by the wearer and the wearer has performed a respirator seal check that satisfies one or more safety rules. There is also provided a system using such computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Andrew W. Long, Richard C. Webb, Steven T. Awiszus, Jessica L.T. Hauge, David R. Stein, Daniel B. Taylor, Jacob P. Vanderheyden, Caroline M. Ylitalo
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Publication number: 20210398415Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a plurality of articles of personal protected equipment (PPE) that are each assigned to a particular worker. The system may also include a data hub that detects an input that initiates a broadcast of diagnostic self-check messages; identifies, in response to the input, each article of PPE of the plurality of articles of PPE; broadcasts, based on identifying each article of PPE, the diagnostic self-check messages to the respective articles of PPE, wherein each article of PPE receives its respective self-check message at its communication component; in response to receiving a set of diagnostic acknowledgement messages from one or more of the plurality of articles of PPE that have performed a diagnostic self-check, determines whether the set of diagnostic acknowledge messages satisfy one or more self-check criteria; and performs one or more operations based on whether the self-check criteria are satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Eric C. Lobner, Michael G. Wurm
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Publication number: 20210307965Abstract: A system including a head-mounted device having a face shield; a respirator coupled to or embodied in the head mounted device; a light having a light intensity; a light detector, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one light detector that receive from the light detector data indicting a type and intensity of light, and determine that the light matches a particular type of light and whether it exceeds a threshold, and on the basis of this determination, modifies the intensity of the light.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Eric C. Lobner, Robert J. Quintero, Micayla A. Johnson, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Britton G. Billingsley
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Patent number: 11127277Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a plurality of articles of personal protected equipment (PPE) that are each assigned to a particular worker. The system may also include a data hub that detects an input that initiates a broadcast of diagnostic self-check messages; identifies, in response to the input, each article of PPE of the plurality of articles of PPE; broadcasts, based on identifying each article of PPE, the diagnostic self-check messages to the respective articles of PPE, wherein each article of PPE receives its respective self-check message at its communication component; in response to receiving a set of diagnostic acknowledgement messages from one or more of the plurality of articles of PPE that have performed a diagnostic self-check, determines whether the set of diagnostic acknowledge messages satisfy one or more self-check criteria; and performs one or more operations based on whether the self-check criteria are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Eric C. Lobner, Michael G. Wurm
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Publication number: 20210264761Abstract: In some examples, a system includes: an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a communication component; a computing device communicatively coupled to the article of PPE, wherein the computing device: receives context data that is based on one or more of the article of PPE, a work environment for the article of PPE, or a worker assigned to the article of PPE; selects, based at least in part on the context data, a set of programmable safety rules that are contextually associated with the at least one article of PPE; sends the programmable safety rules to one or more of the article of PPE or a data hub communicatively coupled to the article of PPE; and wherein the programmable safety rules are configured at the article of PPE or the data hub to perform one or more operations based at least in part on PPE data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Eric C. Lobner, MIchael G. Wurm, Kenneth J. Gamberini
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Publication number: 20210248505Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors configured to generate usage data that is indicative of an operation of the article of PPE; and at least one computing device comprising a memory and one or more computer processors that: receive the usage data that is indicative of the operation of the article of PPE; apply the usage data to a safety learning model that predicts a likelihood of an occurrence of a safety event associated with the article of PPE based at least in part on previously generated usage data that corresponds to the safety event; and perform, based at least in part on predicting the likelihood of the occurrence of the safety event, at least one operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Eric C. Lobner, Robert J. Quintero, Micayla A. Johnson, Madeleine Filloux
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Publication number: 20210216940Abstract: In one example, a system includes one or more personal protective equipment (PPE) devices each configured to be worn by a worker, the PPE devices each including one or more sensors that generate activity data indicative of activities of workers operating within one or more work environments. The system also includes a computing device, the computing device configured to: identify, based at least on the activity data, a plurality of clusters of one or more entities, wherein each entity of the entities is associated with one or more of the workers; and output an indication of a difference between performance by a target entity with respect to safety events and performance by the cluster that includes the target entity with respect to safety events.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Nicholas A. Asendorf, Saber Taghvaeeyan, Ronald D. Jesme, Justin M. Johnson, Robert W. Shannon, Robert D. Lorentz, Andrew H. Tilstra, Eric C. Lobner, Steven T. Awiszus, Glenn E. Casner, Kiran S. Kanukurthy
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Publication number: 20210210202Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a communication component; an industrial controller device that is configured to control an industrial device and includes a communication component; and a computing device communicatively coupled to the article of PPE and the industrial controller device, wherein the computing device is configured to: receive PPE data from the article of PPE and industrial controller data from the industrial controller device; determine, based at least in part on a set of the PPE data that temporally corresponds to a set of the industrial controller data, an occurrence of a safety event; and perform, based at least in part on the determination of the safety event, at least one operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2019Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Michael G. Wurm, David R. Stein, Johannes P.M. Kusters
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Patent number: 11039652Abstract: The present disclosure includes a retrofit sensor module for use with a protective head top with a helmet and a visor. The sensor module includes a sensor housing and an attachment mechanism. The sensor housing encloses a head presence sensor to sense when the protective head top is being worn. The sensor housing also encloses a position sensor to sense the position of the visor relative to the helmet. The retrofit sensor module further comprises an attachment mechanism secured to the housing. The attachment mechanism mates with a first hinge component of a hinge assembly in the protective head top to removably install the sensor module into the protective head top, wherein the hinge assembly allows the visor to move relative to the helmet.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Marc A. Egeland, Steven T. Awiszus, Charles P. Jents, Benjamin A. Johnson, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, James E. Nash, Milo G. Oien-Rochat
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Patent number: 11030873Abstract: In some examples, a system includes: an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a communication component; a computing device communicatively coupled to the article of PPE, wherein the computing device: receives context data that is based on one or more of the article of PPE, a work environment for the article of PPE, or a worker assigned to the article of PPE; selects, based at least in part on the context data, a set of programmable safety rules that are contextually associated with the at least one article of PPE; sends the programmable safety rules to one or more of the article of PPE or a data hub communicatively coupled to the article of PPE; and wherein the programmable safety rules are configured at the article of PPE or the data hub to perform one or more operations based at least in part on PPE data.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Eric C. Lobner, Michael G. Wurm, Kenneth J. Gamberini
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Patent number: 11023818Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors configured to generate usage data that is indicative of an operation of the article of PPE; and at least one computing device comprising a memory and one or more computer processors that: receive the usage data that is indicative of the operation of the article of PPE; apply the usage data to a safety learning model that predicts a likelihood of an occurrence of a safety event associated with the article of PPE based at least in part on previously generated usage data that corresponds to the safety event; and perform, based at least in part on predicting the likelihood of the occurrence of the safety event, at least one operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Eric C. Lobner, Robert J. Quintero, Micayla A. Johnson, Madeleine Filloux
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Patent number: 10997543Abstract: In one example, a system includes one or more personal protective equipment (PPE) devices each configured to be worn by a worker, the PPE devices each including one or more sensors that generate activity data indicative of activities of workers operating within one or more work environments. The system also includes a computing device, the computing device configured to: identify, based at least on the activity data, a plurality of clusters of one or more entities, wherein each entity of the entities is associated with one or more of the workers; and output an indication of a difference between performance by a target entity with respect to safety events and performance by the cluster that includes the target entity with respect to safety events.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Nicholas A. Asendorf, Saber Taghvaeeyan, Ronald D. Jesme, Justin M. Johnson, Robert W. Shannon, Robert D. Lorentz, Andrew H. Tilstra, Eric C. Lobner, Steven T. Awiszus, Glenn E. Casner, Kiran S. Kanukurthy
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Publication number: 20210052427Abstract: A system including a head-mounted device having a face shield; a respirator coupled to or embodied in the head mounted device; a light having a light intensity; a light detector, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one light detector that receive from the light detector data indicting a type and intensity of light, and determine that the light matches a particular type of light and whether it exceeds a threshold, and on the basis of this determination, modifies the intensity of the light.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Eric C. Lobner, Robert J. Quintero, Micayla A. Johnson, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Britton G. Billingsley
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Patent number: 10849790Abstract: A system (2000) comprising a head-mounted device (2010); at least one position sensor coupled to the head-mounted device; at least one light-filtering shield (2012) coupled to the at least one position sensor; at least one light detector (2019); and at least one computing device (2017) configured to receive, from the light detector, an indication that an intensity of light detected by the light detector exceeds an exposure threshold; determine, from the at least one position sensor, that the light-filtering shield is not positioned at the face of a worker to filter light with the intensity that exceeds the exposure threshold; and generate, in response to the determination that the light-filtering shield is not positioned at the face of a worker wearing the head-mounted device to filter light with the intensity that exceeds the exposure threshold, an indication for output.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Eric C. Lobner, Robert J. Quintero, Micayla A. Johnson, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Britton G. Billingsley
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Publication number: 20200334970Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a plurality of articles of personal protected equipment (PPE) that are each assigned to a particular worker. The system may also include a data hub that detects an input that initiates a broadcast of diagnostic self-check messages; identifies, in response to the input, each article of PPE of the plurality of articles of PPE; broadcasts, based on identifying each article of PPE, the diagnostic self-check messages to the respective articles of PPE, wherein each article of PPE receives its respective self-check message at its communication component; in response to receiving a set of diagnostic acknowledgement messages from one or more of the plurality of articles of PPE that have performed a diagnostic self-check, determines whether the set of diagnostic acknowledge messages satisfy one or more self-check criteria; and performs one or more operations based on whether the self-check criteria are satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Eric C. Lobner, Michael G. Wurm
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Publication number: 20200279116Abstract: In general, techniques are described for a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system (PPEMS) that uses images of optical patterns embodied on articles of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to identify safety conditions that correspond to usage of the PPEs. In one example, an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a first optical pattern embodied on a surface of the article of PPE; a second optical pattern embodied on the surface of the article of PPE, wherein a spatial relation between the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern is indicative of an operational status of the article of PPE.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2018Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Caroline M. Ylitalo, Kui Chen-Ho, Paul L. Acito, Tien Yi T.H. Whiting, James B. Snyder, Travis L. Potts, James W. Howard, James L.C. Werness, Jr., Suman K. Patel, Charles A. Shaklee, Katja Hansen, Glenn E. Casner, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Neeraj Sharma
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Patent number: 10741052Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a plurality of articles of personal protected equipment (PPE) that are each assigned to a particular worker. The system may also include a data hub that detects an input that initiates a broadcast of diagnostic self-check messages; identifies, in response to the input, each article of PPE of the plurality of articles of PPE; broadcasts, based on identifying each article of PPE, the diagnostic self-check messages to the respective articles of PPE, wherein each article of PPE receives its respective self-check message at its communication component; in response to receiving a set of diagnostic acknowledgement messages from one or more of the plurality of articles of PPE that have performed a diagnostic self-check, determines whether the set of diagnostic acknowledge messages satisfy one or more self-check criteria; and performs one or more operations based on whether the self-check criteria are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Steven T. Awiszus, Eric C. Lobner, Michael G. Wurm