Patents by Inventor Walter S. Johnson

Walter S. Johnson 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).

  • Publication number: 20110148589
    Abstract: A system tracks vehicles within a terminal and includes at least one tag interrogator mounted on a vehicle to be identified and tracked within the terminal. The tag interrogator is operative for emitting a signal containing data identifying the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one tag transmitter is fixed at a known location within the terminal where vehicles are to be identified and receptive to a tag interrogator on the vehicle when the vehicle passes within proximity to the fixed tag transmitter for transmitting a wireless RF signal having data identifying the tag transmitter and identifying the tag interrogator as an identifier for the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one access point is positioned at the terminal for receiving the RF signal from the tag transmitter for subsequent processing to verify vehicle identity at the known location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Walter S. Johnson, Santiago Romero
  • Patent number: 7916026
    Abstract: A system tracks vehicles within a terminal and includes at least one tag interrogator mounted on a vehicle to be identified and tracked within the terminal. The tag interrogator is operative for emitting a signal containing data identifying the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one tag transmitter is fixed at a known location within the terminal where vehicles are to be identified and receptive to a tag interrogator on the vehicle when the vehicle passes within proximity to the fixed tag transmitter for transmitting a wireless RF signal having data identifying the tag transmitter and identifying the tag interrogator as an identifier for the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one access point is positioned at the terminal for receiving the RF signal from the tag transmitter for subsequent processing to verify vehicle identity at the known location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Zebra Enterprise Solutions Corp.
    Inventors: Walter S. Johnson, Santiago Romero
  • Patent number: 7475814
    Abstract: A tag mounting device can temporarily mount a tag transmitter on a shipping container or trailer for tracking location of the shipping container or trailer. The tag mounting device includes a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends. A clamp mechanism is carried by the support leg for clamping the support leg onto a rim of a container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer. A tag support member extends outward from the support leg. A tag transmitter is carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals to at least one receiver for subsequent processing to determine the location of the tag transmitter and a container or trailer on which the tag mounting device is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Wherenet Corp.
    Inventors: Brett A. Wingo, Walter S. Johnson, Richard W. Benner
  • Publication number: 20080129545
    Abstract: A system determines the entry or exit lane of vehicles passing through a vehicle gate that has a plurality of vehicle lanes through which vehicles enter or exit. A tag interrogator is positioned at a predetermined location of the vehicle gate and emits a signal containing a tag interrogator ID. A plurality of the vehicles lanes are within range to receive that signal. A tag transmitter is mounted on a vehicle that enters or exits the gate and receives the signal emitted from the tag interrogator, which determines the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and in response, transmits an RE signal containing the tag interrogator ID and the RSSI for determining which vehicle lane the vehicle is located based on the tag interrogator ID and RSSI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: WHERENET CORP.
    Inventors: Walter S. JOHNSON, Huong M. HAN
  • Publication number: 20080111693
    Abstract: A system tracks vehicles within a terminal and includes at least one tag interrogator mounted on a vehicle to be identified and tracked within the terminal. The tag interrogator is operative for emitting a signal containing data identifying the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one tag transmitter is fixed at a known location within the terminal where vehicles are to be identified and receptive to a tag interrogator on the vehicle when the vehicle passes within proximity to the fixed tag transmitter for transmitting a wireless RF signal having data identifying the tag transmitter and identifying the tag interrogator as an identifier for the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one access point is positioned at the terminal for receiving the RF signal from the tag transmitter for subsequent processing to verify vehicle identity at the known location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: WHERENET CORP.
    Inventors: Walter S. JOHNSON, Santiago Romero
  • Patent number: 6569335
    Abstract: The control method and apparatus of the present invention is directed for an activated sludge wastewater treatment process. Instrumentation for measuring suspended solids concentration in the aeration tank and in the WAS flow stream communicates with a data processor having at least one data structure. The data structure stores algorithms, constant values including the volume of the aeration tank (VAerationTank), and unit conversion factors. In use, the user inputs to the data processor a desired solids retention time (SRTDesired) to optimize the treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Walter S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6502005
    Abstract: An elapsed time clock is incorporated into a part call tag for requesting replenishment of components used by workstations of a manufacturing facility. One or more transmission readers spatially distributed around the manufacturing facility detect a part call signal transmitted from the part call tag. A reader output processing subsystem processes part call signals detected by at least one of the tag transmission readers to recover information contained in the part call signal. A management processor associates the recovered information with a respective workstation, and what component is to be replenished. The elapsed time clock is reset when the part call tag is operated to transmit a part call signal, and thereby serves as a call tag ‘stop watch’—informing workstation personnel of the length of time that has elapsed since the last part call transmission from that tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Wherenet Corp
    Inventors: Mark A. Wrubel, Thomas M. Bacon, Huong M. Hang, Walter S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6317082
    Abstract: A call tag-based material replenishment system employs a tagged object radio location infrastructure of the type described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,287. For each different part used by a lineside workstation an associated ‘call’ tag is placed at or near that workstation. To initiate replenishment of a part, a ‘call’ push-button on a call tag is operated. In response to the operation of the call button, an RF signal burst containing tag identity and status data is transmitted from the call tag. This information is recovered by a spatially distributed reader and processor subsystem for application to an asset management database. The database associates the call tag's identification data with a particular part, to enable a resource management operator to specify what component is to be accessed from storage and delivered to the requesting call tag's workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Wherenet Corp
    Inventors: Thomas M. Bacon, Huong M. Hang, Walter S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5563728
    Abstract: A diffuse infrared communication link provides for communication directly between nodes each having a transceiver. A repeater may be present to facilitate communication. Each node is automatically reconfigurable between operation with or without a repeater. When a repeater is present each node automatically ignores any transmission by another node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventors: Richard C. Allen, Gary M. Cisneros, Stanley L. Fickes, Gary N. Hughes, Walter S. Johnson, James L. Konsevich, John Piccone, Bernard E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 5384652
    Abstract: A diffuse infrared communication link provides for communication directly between nodes each having a transceiver. A repeater may be present to facilitate communication. Each node is automatically reconfigurable between operation with or without a repeater. When a repeater is present each node automatically ignores any transmission by another node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Allen, Gary M. Cisneros, Stanley L. Fickes, Gary N. Hughes, Walter S. Johnson, James L. Konsevich, John Piccone, Bernard E. Stewart