Patents by Inventor Wendell C. Johnson
Wendell C. 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).
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Patent number: 9129505Abstract: Method and system for monitoring a driver during movement of the vehicle includes an information obtaining system that obtains information about a driver who traveled the same road at a previous time, and a processor that analyzes the obtained information and vehicle movement to determine whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle. The loss of ability to continue to control the vehicle arises from the driver falling asleep or otherwise being incapable of controlling the vehicle after initially having been awake or otherwise capable of controlling the vehicle. A reactive component is affected by the processor's determination that the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle, and preferably requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to operate the vehicle or exerting control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLCInventors: David S Breed, Wendell C Johnson, Wilbur E DuVall
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Publication number: 20150197248Abstract: Method and arrangement for setting a speed limit for vehicle travelling on a road includes monitoring conditions of the road, determining a speed limit for travel of vehicles on the road based on the monitored conditions, and transmitting the determined speed limit to the vehicles to thereby notify operators of the vehicles of the determined speed limit. Monitoring conditions of the road may entail monitoring weather conditions around the road, monitoring visibility for operators of the vehicles on the roads, monitoring traffic on the road, monitoring accidents on the road or emergency situations of vehicles on the road and/or monitoring the speed of vehicles travelling on the road and a distance between adjacent vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: American Vehicular Sciences LLCInventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 9084076Abstract: Techniques for obtaining information about an object on which a radio-frequency transceiver device is mounted when in a space defined by a vehicular frame. A request is generated at a telecommunications device for the object's location and received at an interrogator on the frame. In response to receipt of the request, the interrogator directs antennas to transmit RF signals into the space. The transceiver device returns a signal if and when it receives any signal or a signal having a particular identification from the antenna(s). Return signals from the transceiver device are received at each antenna and a processor, on the vehicle or the telecommunications device, derives information about the object based on the return signals. The derived information includes a location of the object in the space and/or an identification of the object, and may be displayed on a display of the telecommunications device.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 9014953Abstract: Wireless sensing and communication system including sensors located on the vehicle, in the roadway or in the vicinity of the vehicle or roadway and which provide information which is transmitted to one or more interrogators in the vehicle by a wireless radio frequency mechanism. Power to operate a particular sensor is supplied by the interrogator or the sensor is independently connected to either a battery, generator, vehicle power source or some source of power external to the vehicle. The sensors can provide information about the vehicle and its interior or exterior environment, about individual components, systems, vehicle occupants, subsystems, or about the roadway, ambient atmosphere, travel conditions and external objects. The sensors arranged on the roadway or ancillary structures would include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, moisture content or humidity sensors, and friction sensors.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2008Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 8994546Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring a material storage container which includes a housing defining an interior receivable of removable material. An interior sensor system is arranged on the housing to obtain information about any material in the interior of the housing different than the location of the container. A location determining system is arranged on the housing to monitor the location of the container, and a communication system is coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system and transmits information about the material in the housing and the location of the container to one or more remote facilities. The communication system may be arranged on the housing itself, which is especially applicable when the housing is movable, for example, such as the housing of a Frac tank. The location and condition of the material in the container can thus be known at all times.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
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Patent number: 8965677Abstract: System and method for conveying data between vehicles includes a data generating system arranged on a first vehicle to obtain or generate information about the first vehicle or conditions around the first vehicle, a first communications system arranged on the first vehicle and coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and a second communications system arranged on a second vehicle and communicating with an ISP. The first communications system enables the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the second communications system. The first and second communications systems can communicate with the same ISP or different ISPs linked to one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 8948442Abstract: Vehicle includes a structure defining an interior space for containing or designed to contain one or more objects, and an arrangement mounted on, joined or coupled to the structure for determining whether an object is present in the interior space, or the presence of multiple objects. One arrangement includes at least one optical imaging device arranged to receive images of the interior space defined by the structure, and a processor coupled to the optical imaging device(s) and arranged to determine whether one or more objects are present in the interior space and when one or more objects are determined to be present, to obtain information about the object or objects. The processor is preferably arranged to distinguish between different objects and/or different arrangements of objects. A related method for obtaining information about objects in interior spaces of vehicles is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S Breed, Wendell C Johnson, Wilbur E DuVall
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Patent number: 8822357Abstract: Inflatable airbag for a vehicle which is deployed in the event of an accident involving the vehicle to provide protection for an occupant of the vehicle includes a plurality of ribbons coupled together to define an enclosed, fluid-retaining space and a layer of film laminated on at least one of an outer side of the woven ribbons and an inner side of the ribbons. The ribbons each have a width of less than about 3 mm and preferably about 0.5 to about 1 mm. The ribbons may be made from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or polyamide and the layers of film may be made from polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester or polyamide. The ribbons and layers of film may be made of the same or different materials.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson
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Patent number: 8820782Abstract: Vehicle including a seat support structure, a cushion arranged thereon and having an upper surface for supporting an occupying item and that deflects downward as a function of weight of the occupying item, and a sensor system including a force-measuring device that responds to downward deflection of the cushion. An interrogator sends a signal to the force-measuring device and the force-measuring device transmits, after receipt of the signal from the interrogator, a return signal to the interrogator related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion. In a method for obtaining an indication of weight of an occupying item of the seat, a signal is transmitted from the interrogator on the vehicle to the force-measuring device and from the force-measuring device, the transmitted return signal related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion is received.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLCInventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Publication number: 20140097957Abstract: Method and system for monitoring a driver during movement of the vehicle includes an information obtaining system that obtains information about a driver who traveled the same road at a previous time, and a processor that analyzes the obtained information and vehicle movement to determine whether the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle. The loss of ability to continue to control the vehicle arises from the driver falling asleep or otherwise being incapable of controlling the vehicle after initially having been awake or otherwise capable of controlling the vehicle. A reactive component is affected by the processor's determination that the driver has lost the ability to continue to control the vehicle, and preferably requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to operate the vehicle or exerting control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLCInventors: David S Breed, Wendell C Johnson, Wilbur E DuVall
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Patent number: 8630795Abstract: Method and arrangement for setting a speed limit for vehicle travelling on a road includes monitoring conditions of the road, determining a speed limit for travel of vehicles on the road based on the monitored conditions, and transmitting the determined speed limit to the vehicles to thereby notify operators of the vehicles of the determined speed limit. Monitoring conditions of the road may entail monitoring weather conditions around the road, monitoring visibility for operators of the vehicles on the roads, monitoring traffic on the road, monitoring accidents on the road or emergency situations of vehicles on the road and/or monitoring the speed of vehicles travelling on the road and a distance between adjacent vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLCInventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 8604932Abstract: Method and system for monitoring a vehicle driver includes an optical imaging system that obtains images of the driver, and a processor coupled to the optical imaging system and arranged to analyze the images obtained by the optical imaging system to locate a head of the driver in the images and monitor the driver's head or a part thereof over time. The processor also determines, based on the monitoring of the driver's head or part thereof, whether the driver has lost the ability to operate the vehicle. A reactive component is affected by the processor's determination that the driver has lost the ability to operate the vehicle, and requires action by the driver to indicate regaining of the ability to operate the vehicle or exerting control over the vehicle to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences, LLCInventors: David S Breed, Wendell C Johnson, Wilbur E DuVall
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Publication number: 20130002443Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring a material storage container which includes a housing defining an interior receivable of removable material. An interior sensor system is arranged on the housing to obtain information about any material in the interior of the housing different than the location of the container. A location determining system is arranged on the housing to monitor the location of the container, and a communication system is coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system and transmits information about the material in the housing and the location of the container to one or more remote facilities. The communication system may be arranged on the housing itself, which is especially applicable when the housing is movable, for example, such as the housing of a Frac tank. The location and condition of the material in the container can thus be known at all times.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
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Publication number: 20120323474Abstract: System and method for conveying data between vehicles includes a data generating system arranged on a first vehicle to obtain or generate information about the first vehicle or conditions around the first vehicle, a first communications system arranged on the first vehicle and coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and a second communications system arranged on a second vehicle and communicating with an ISP. The first communications system enables the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the second communications system. The first and second communications systems can communicate with the same ISP or different ISPs linked to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Publication number: 20120299344Abstract: Vehicle including a seat support structure, a cushion arranged thereon and having an upper surface for supporting an occupying item and that deflects downward as a function of weight of the occupying item, and a sensor system including a force-measuring device that responds to downward deflection of the cushion. An interrogator sends a signal to the force-measuring device and the force-measuring device transmits, after receipt of the signal from the interrogator, a return signal to the interrogator related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion. In a method for obtaining an indication of weight of an occupying item of the seat, a signal is transmitted from the interrogator on the vehicle to the force-measuring device and from the force-measuring device, the transmitted return signal related to the response of the force-measuring device to the downward deflection of the cushion is received.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: David S Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 8255144Abstract: System and method for conveying data between vehicles includes a data generating system arranged on a first vehicle to obtain or generate information about the first vehicle or conditions around the first vehicle, a first communications system arranged on the first vehicle and coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and a second communications system arranged on a second vehicle and communicating with an ISP. The first communications system enables the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the second communications system. The first and second communications systems can communicate with the same ISP or different ISPs linked to one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Publication number: 20120209505Abstract: Method and arrangement for setting a speed limit for vehicle travelling on a road includes monitoring conditions of the road, determining a speed limit for travel of vehicles on the road based on the monitored conditions, and transmitting the determined speed limit to the vehicles to thereby notify operators of the vehicles of the determined speed limit. Monitoring conditions of the road may entail monitoring weather conditions around the road, monitoring visibility for operators of the vehicles on the roads, monitoring traffic on the road, monitoring accidents on the road or emergency situations of vehicles on the road and/or monitoring the speed of vehicles travelling on the road and a distance between adjacent vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCESInventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 8235416Abstract: In or for a vehicle, an arrangement for measuring weight of an occupant of a seat connected to a floor of the vehicle via a slide mechanism, the floor, in part, defining a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A support structure extends between the slide mechanism and the seat. A force sensing device is coupled to the support structure and configured for measuring force in the support structure indicative of weight applied by the occupant to the seat. The weight may be used for component control.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLCInventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Patent number: 8152198Abstract: Vehicular apparatus and method for determining a characteristic of an object that may be located on a seat of the vehicle includes emitters, each emitting a beam along a path on which the object may be located, each path being in a different direction, receivers, each receiving beams emitted from the array of emitters that are reflected from the object when present in the seat, and a processor coupled to the emitters and the receivers for determining time-of-flight of each reflected and received beam between emission of the beam from the emitters and reception of the beam at the receivers. The processor determines one or more characteristics of the object based on the determined time-of-flight of each reflected and received beam, taken either individually or in combination.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
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Publication number: 20120001463Abstract: In or for a vehicle, an arrangement for measuring weight of an occupant of a seat connected to a floor of the vehicle via a slide mechanism, the floor, in part, defining a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A support structure extends between the slide mechanism and the seat. A force sensing device is coupled to the support structure and configured for measuring force in the support structure indicative of weight applied by the occupant to the seat. The weight may be used for component control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Inventors: David S. Breed, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall