Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Mathews
Thomas J. Mathews 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: 6892546Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety and quality issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling
-
Publication number: 20040261431Abstract: A system for monitoring a remote refrigeration system includes a plurality of sensors that monitor parameters of components of the refrigeration system and a communication network that transfers signals generated by each of the plurality of sensors. A management center receives the signals from the communication network and processes the signals to determine an operating condition of at least one of the components. The management center generates an alarm based on the operating condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth
-
Publication number: 20040163396Abstract: A method for improving system performance in a building environment according to the invention includes installing a temperature monitoring system for a refrigeration system, and performing a temperature audit on the refrigeration system. Temperature and pressure sensors are calibrated, and operating parameters of the refrigeration system are obtained. Pressure drop and efficiency tests are performed on at least one component of the refrigeration system, and operating pressures of at least one component are adjusted. System stability is tracked. In one embodiment, the building environment further includes an HVAC system and the method includes adjusting the HVAC system according to desired presets. In another embodiment, the building environment includes a lighting system and the method includes adjusting internal lighting levels of the lighting system to desired set points.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventors: Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Publication number: 20040159113Abstract: A system and method for managing energy consumption of a building system includes a source of actual energy consumption data, a source of actual weather data, and a database correlating discrete weather data values with expected energy consumption values for at least one component of the building system. A computer accesses the actual weather data, actual energy consumption data and database, wherein the computer compares the expected energy consumption values with actual energy consumption data and generates an output based on the comparison. The expected energy consumption values are generated for the discrete weather data values using an energy consumption model that functionally relates discrete weather data values and design information for the building system component.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Neal Starling, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Publication number: 20040060305Abstract: A method of managing a refrigeration system includes transmitting energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data from the refrigeration system to a management center; analyzing the energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data at the management center; and monitoring, diagnosing and prognosing the performance of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The method may also include altering a configuration of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The refrigeration system may be located at a retail location and the management center may be located remotely to the retail location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Neal Starling, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Publication number: 20040054506Abstract: A system and method according to the invention includes a communication network and a food product manager in communication with a monitored location through the communication network, wherein the manager receives product-temperature condition information from the monitored location and determines a food characteristic for a refrigerated product as a function of a frequency and severity of the product-temperature condition information. The function may be a time-temperature calculation, a degree-minute calculation, or a bacteria-count calculation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg
-
Patent number: 6675591Abstract: A method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at the remote location and employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Emerson Retail Services Inc.Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Neal Starling, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Patent number: 6668240Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location. The system includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communications network. The management center receives performance information of the remote location with respect to operational parameters of components of a refrigeration system of the remote location, and temperature data, at which food product has been stored. The management center utilizes software modules to analyze the performance information and provide alarms for scenarios such as food safety and quality issues, failure of a component of the refrigeration system or preventative maintenance for components of the refrigeration system. A third party computer may also communicate with the management center and the remote location for reviewing performance information.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Emerson Retail Services Inc.Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg
-
Publication number: 20030208333Abstract: The present invention provides a food quality and safety monitoring system and method for evaluating food characteristic management for improving the safety of perishable food products for human consumption and the shelf life of perishable food product. A sensor within a refrigeration case may be continuously monitored by a controller to calculate a food characteristic index. The food characteristic index can be monitored over time to evaluate the food characteristic management of a particular store or group of stores.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg, Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Patent number: 6609078Abstract: The present invention provides a food quality and safety monitoring system and method for evaluating food characteristic management for improving the safety of perishable food products for human consumption and the shelf life of perishable food product. In a first embodiment, a temperature sample is taken for each product group within a refrigeration case that is used to calculate either a food safety index or a food quality index. Alternatively, the food product temperature for each food product group within a refrigeration case may be continuously monitored to calculate a food characteristic index. The food characteristic index can be monitored over time to evaluate the food characteristic management of a particular store or group of stores.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg, Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Patent number: 6549135Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the food product of a remote food product retailer. The system includes a management center in communication with the remote food product retailer via a communication network. The communication network is accessible via a user interface that may be located at any of the management center, the remote location or some other location. The management center gathers food product temperature information and uses that information to determine whether the shelved food product is within acceptable food safety and quality limits. If the food product exceeds these limits, an alarm is sounded at either the management center and the remote location. The user interface is operable to monitor the status of the food product via a selection of screens and remotely respond to the alarms.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2002Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Emerson Retail Services Inc.Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg
-
Publication number: 20030005710Abstract: A method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at the remote location and employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Neal Starling, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Publication number: 20020193970Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location. The system includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communications network. The management center receives performance information of the remote location with respect to operational parameters of components of a refrigeration system of the remote location, and temperature data, at which food product has been stored. The management center utilizes software modules to analyze the performance information and provide alarms for scenarios such as food safety and quality issues, failure of a component of the refrigeration system or preventative maintenance for components of the refrigeration system. A third party computer may also communicate with the management center and the remote location for reviewing performance information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg
-
Publication number: 20020189267Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety and quality issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Abtar Singh, Paul Wickberg, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling
-
Publication number: 20020163436Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the food product of a remote food product retailer. The system includes a management center in communication with the remote food product retailer via a communication network. The communication network is accessible via a user interface that may be located at any of the management center, the remote location or some other location. The management center gathers food product temperature information and uses that information to determine whether the shelved food product is within acceptable food safety and quality limits. If the food product exceeds these limits, an alarm is sounded at either the management center and the remote location. The user interface is operable to monitor the status of the food product via a selection of screens and remotely respond to the alarms.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2002Publication date: November 7, 2002Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg
-
Publication number: 20020161545Abstract: The present invention provides a food quality and safety monitoring system and method for evaluating food characteristic management for improving the safety of perishable food products for human consumption and the shelf life of perishable food product. In a first embodiment, a temperature sample is taken for each product group within a refrigeration case that is used to calculate either a food safety index or a food quality index. Alternatively, the food product temperature for each food product group within a refrigeration case may be continuously monitored to calculate a food characteristic index. The food characteristic index can be monitored over time to evaluate the food characteristic management of a particular store or group of stores.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Neal Starling, Paul Wickberg, Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews
-
Patent number: 6128911Abstract: A modular refrigerated structure 10 includes a modular perimeter 12 which defines a refrigerated space 30, a plurality of display openings 24 about the perimeter 12 and at least one personnel access opening 32 for personnel ingress and egress to the refrigerated space 30. Shelves 40 are positioned at each display opening 24 for displaying products. A plurality of roof modules 56 are supported over the perimeter 12 and include a refrigeration module 67, an air passage 60 positioned above a centrally located storage area 38, an air distribution plenum 68 and air outlets 80 positioned adjacent the perimeter 12.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1998Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Delaware Captial Formation, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Mathews, James G. Boyko, David G. Tovey, Larry A. Wichroski, Jon Scott Martin, Sheldon F. Mashburn, Brian T. Kerry, Jesse H. Pickrum
-
Patent number: D263697Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1979Date of Patent: April 6, 1982Inventor: Thomas J. Mathews