Power Up Patents (Class 340/10.34)
  • Patent number: 11940766
    Abstract: The real estate monitoring system, comprising a monitoring module (10), which is adapted to the real estate monitoring capacities and contains at least one sensor (15), which is installed within the real estate, with a monitoring module (10) configured to respond to changes in physical parameters that are recorded by the sensor (15); furthermore, the monitoring module (10), which is equipped with a receiver (13) for a wireless communication system, and a keyboard (12) for selecting the operating mode of the real estate monitoring system communicatively linked to the monitoring module (10), and the identification tag (20) with memory (25), microprocessor (27) and transmitter (23) of the wireless communication system, and a battery (26), with a unique identification tag number (20) stored in the memory (25) of the identification tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: EBS SP. Z O.O. 3E PRODUCTION SP.K.
    Inventor: Krzysztof Stalewski
  • Patent number: 11926043
    Abstract: In a robot (1) for gripping and/or holding objects (2), in particular workpieces, tools or carrier parts, the robot comprising: at least one robot arm (3, 4, 5) which is supported on a support frame (19) and is movable in space in at least one translational and/or rotational degree of freedom, a gripping and/or holding device (6), on which the respective object (2) is supported in a positionally oriented manner and/or held in a rotational arrangement, at least one electric motor (9) provided in the gripping and/or holding device (6), by means of which a torque and/or a clamping force is generated which acts on the object (2), and a drive shaft (24) mounted in the robot arm (5), which is coupled in a driving manner to the gripping and/or holding device (6), preferably in such a way that the gripping and/or holding device (6) rotates about its own longitudinal axis (6?), the gripping and/or holding device (6) arranged at the free end of the robot arm (5) should be freely movable in space, so that rotation a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SMW-Autoblok Spannsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Eckhard Maurer
  • Patent number: 11894692
    Abstract: A wireless power receiving device, according to the disclosure, comprises: at least one power receiving antenna for sequentially receiving a plurality of different RF waves formed by a wireless power transmitting device; a communication circuit; and at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to confirm a plurality of pieces of strength information that indicates the strength of each of the plurality of different RF waves, confirm a plurality of pieces of phase information corresponding to each of the plurality of different RF waves, confirm, on the basis of the plurality of pieces of strength information and the plurality of pieces of phase information, an optimum phase value such that a received RF wave has a maximum strength, and transmit a communication signal including information about the optimum phase value to the wireless power transmitting device through the communication circuit. Additional various embodiments are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sangwook Lee, Chongmin Lee, Daehyun Kim, Jaeseok Park, Hyoseok Han, Seunghyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11664681
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to detecting wireless signals and/or signal packets and may relate more particularly to detecting wireless signals and/or signal packets at energy-harvesting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Arm Limited
    Inventors: Philex Ming-Yan Fan, Parameshwarappa Anand Kumar Savanth, Sahan Sajeewa Hiniduma Udugama Gamage, Pranay Prabhat, Benoit Labbe, Thanusree Achuthan
  • Patent number: 11609298
    Abstract: A method for controlling the integrity of at least one useful datum includes acquiring at least one UWB message coming from a transmitter by a wireless interface; demodulating the at least one UWB message and decoding of at least one useful datum; determining the position of the UWB transmitter by a reception of a plurality of messages transmitted by the transmitter and an analysis of the time-of-flight differences between these messages; associating the calculated position with the at least one useful datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: UWINLOC
    Inventor: Luc Antolinos
  • Patent number: 11562156
    Abstract: A method begins by a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader transmitting a first and second radio frequency (RF) signal of a plurality of RF signals, which each include a unique carrier frequency and an instruction to an RFID tag to respond with a received power level indication. The method continues by the RFID reader receiving, in response to the first and second signals sent at a first and second carrier frequency, a first and second response from the RFID tag that includes a first and second received power level indication. The method continues by the RFID reader determining an estimated resonant frequency of the RFID tag based on the first and second received power level indications and the first and second carrier frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: RFMicron, Inc.
    Inventor: Shahriar Rokhsaz
  • Patent number: 11515737
    Abstract: A power receiving unit includes: a power receiving section configured to receive power that is fed from a power feeding unit in a non-contact manner; a rectification section configured to rectify the power received by the power receiving section; a method determination section configured to identify a feeding method of the power feeding unit; and a target voltage setting section configured to set a target voltage of the power rectified by the rectification section, to a value corresponding to the feeding method identified by the method determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nakano, Takaaki Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 11507940
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a payment card amplification device comprising a card reader, an amplifier, an antenna, and a power supply. The card reader is configured to read payment card information from a payment card and generate an output signal comprising the payment card information. The amplifier is coupled to receive the card reader output signal and configured to generate an amplified signal comprising the payment card information. The antenna is coupled to receive the amplified signal and transmit the payment card information, wherein the transmitted payment card information can be read by a payment terminal. The power supply is coupled to a power source and configured provide power to the card reader and the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Edwards, Michael Mossoba, Abdelkader M'Hamed Benkreira, Daniel John Marsch
  • Patent number: 11433520
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool for installing a bit on and/or deinstalling a bit from a bit holder system of a milling machine, in particular a road milling machine, having at least one initiator with which installation and/or deinstallation of a bit is initiated. Provision is made that the tool comprises a detection device having at least one counting device; and that the detection device is designed to detect a number of bits deinstalled using the tool and/or a number of bits installed using the tool. The invention also relates to a corresponding bit holder system and to a method for monitoring wear. With the tool and the bit holder system, additional information regarding bit changes that have been carried out is made available to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Matthias Brück, Lothar Schwalbach, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11404921
    Abstract: A power receiving apparatus comprises a power receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive power from a power transmitting apparatus; and a transmitting unit configured to, in a state where both power reception by the power receiving unit and reception of power transmitted to the power receiving apparatus from an external apparatus via a cable are detected, transmit, to the power transmitting apparatus, information for restricting power transmission for activating the power receiving apparatus, wherein the information being information for restricting power transmission during the period of time from when the power transmission is stopped until a predetermined period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Shichino
  • Patent number: 11336119
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a wireless power transmitter includes a transmit coil that includes a plurality of concentric coils; a switch circuit coupled to the plurality of concentric coils; a driver coupled to provide a voltage to the switch circuit; and a controller coupled to the switch circuit, the controller providing control signals to the switch circuit selecting to provide the voltage across one or more of the plurality of concentric coils depending on a Q-factor measuring in the presence of a receive coil. A method of operating a wireless power transmitter includes determining a measured Q-factor for each of a plurality of configurations of concentric transmit coils; determining a difference between each of the measured Q-factors and a standard Q-factor; and selecting one of the plurality of configurations based on the differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholaus Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11322948
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system with a household appliance, a charging station and a plurality of battery units. A control of the system is configured so that a battery unit connected to the charging station can be charged in dependence on a discharge of a battery unit which is connected to the household appliance for operating the household appliance to perform a use operation. The present disclosure further concerns a household appliance and a charging station. It is thereby made possible to perform particularly long use operations with only two battery units or at least a reduced number of battery units without an interruption for charging a battery, and at the same time to achieve the longest possible service life of the battery units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Arnold, Thomas Büning, Benjamin Fleczok, Robert Frielinghaus, Martin Helmich, Lorenz Hillen, Christian Holz, Gerhard Isenberg, Andrej Mosebach, Roman Ortmann, Kevin Schmitz, Fabian Vitz, Niklas van Teeffelen, Georg Hackert
  • Patent number: 11217077
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an appliance for holding electronically tagged products and for recording an association between the tagged products and the appliance, and system and methods for use thereof. In one implementation, the appliance may include a housing defining a cavity for retaining the electronically tagged products. The appliance may also include an exciter integrated with the housing and configured to trigger tags of the products to cause the tag of each product to transmit a unique tag ID. The appliance may also include a receiver for receiving transmission of each unique tag ID. The appliance may also include a communicator for outputting indications of identities of electronically tagged products retained in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: NEXITE LTD.
    Inventors: Anat Shakedd, Lior Shakedd
  • Patent number: 11141100
    Abstract: A Wound Moisture and Assessment System includes a flexible coupon containing one or more electrochemical moisture sensors for measuring a moisture profile of a wound. The coupon is activated by a wireless RF scanner that provides power to the coupon for taking moisture measurements, receives the moisture measurements therefrom, and transmits the measurements to a computing device. The moisture measurements can be represented as a wound moisture map that allows a patient or caregiver to assess the health and healing progress of a wound such as an ulcer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Schoess, Matthew Allen Mueggenberg, Christopher Alan Taylor
  • Patent number: 11133717
    Abstract: Examples described herein utilize a backscatter signal provided by a wirelessly powered device to estimate channel information, (e.g., a channel transfer function) between the wirelessly powered device and a transmitter system. The channel information may be used to optimize MIMO power transfer for linear as well as nonlinear backscatter devices. Examples of die method ‘may shift some or all of the power cost and complexity of coherent channel measurements from the WFD to the transmitters), and allow WPT optimization to milliwatt- or microwatt-class wirelessly powered devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Matthew S. Reynolds, Daniel Arnitz
  • Patent number: 11095153
    Abstract: Wireless power transmission is used in conjunction with lighting, such as a light emitting diode (LED) bulb or lighting fixture that uses existing electrical wiring infrastructure. For instance, a lighting device is provided such that a wireless power transmitter is coupled to receive electrical operating power via the lighting device when the lighting device is coupled to electrical wiring infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ossia Inc.
    Inventor: Hatem Ibrahim Munir Zeine
  • Patent number: 10997806
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application generally relate to controlling ingress/egress through entryway devices. More particularly, but not exclusively, embodiments of the present invention relate to attaining confirmation of intent relating to access to a controlled opening. According to certain embodiments, the credential device and/or the user of the credential device is prompted to provide a response, or otherwise is to perform certain actions, that can demonstrate a confirmation of intent to gain access to the controlled opening. Such responses and/or actions can be evaluated to determine authority to gain access to the controlled opening. Further, such intent confirmation events may, depending on the embodiment, be performed before or after credential information is communicated from the credential device and/or before or after pairing of the access control device and the credential device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Earles, Joseph W. Baumgarte, Todd Eberwine, Brian Sherman, Ryan C. Kincaid, Jeffrey S. Neafsey, Michael P. Hogan, Timothy N. Comerford
  • Patent number: 10984135
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to radio frequency identification (RFID)-based communications technologies. In one aspect, a radio-frequency-based communications apparatus includes an antenna, a near field communication (NFC) radio frequency module and an electronic product code (EPC) radio frequency module separately connected to the antenna, an NFC processing module connected to the NFC radio frequency module, and an EPC processing module connected to the EPC radio frequency module. The NFC radio frequency module and the NFC processing module are configured to process signals transmitted according to one or more predetermined NFC protocols. The EPC radio frequency module and the EPC processing module are configured to process signals transmitted according to one or more predetermined EPC protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Advantageous New Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10966776
    Abstract: An electrosurgical energy delivery apparatus includes an energy delivery circuit, a control circuit and an energy-harvesting system with a plurality of energy-harvesting circuits and a voltage regulator that provides a regulated DC voltage to the energy delivery circuit and/or the control circuit. The energy delivery circuit receives an electrosurgical energy signal having a primary frequency and selectively provides the electrosurgical energy signal to an energy delivery element. The control circuit connects to the energy delivery circuit and selectively enables the flow of electrosurgical energy to the energy delivery element. The plurality of energy-harvesting circuits each include an energy-harvesting antenna tuned to a particular frequency, a matched circuit configured to receive an RF signal from the energy-harvesting antenna, rectify the RF signal and generate a DC signal, and an energy storage device that connects to the voltage regulator to receive and store the DC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: James W. McPherson
  • Patent number: 10927873
    Abstract: The system includes a rail mountable to a wall, such as a wall along a hallway in a medical care environment. A cart movable along a floor adjacent to the wall is fitted with an anchor. The anchor is located at the rail, the anchor configured so that it releasably engages the rail, so that the cart can be secured to the rail when not in use. In at least some embodiments, a power source is located within the rail and a power coupler is provided on the cart which is adjacent to the power source in the rail and electrically coupled to the power source, for transmission of power from the power source in the rail to the cart, when of the anchor on the cart is attached to the rail. Thus, the cart is both anchored and recharged simultaneously in such embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TAGCarts, Inc.
    Inventor: Taggart Neal
  • Patent number: 10929019
    Abstract: Data storage facilities that provide data storage services are typically arranged as either individually accessible drive facilities or multi-carrier drive facilities, but both types must contend with hardware failures that require storage device (e.g., drives) to be replaced. Multi-carrier drive facilities generally have greatly increased drive density, but are confronted with challenges with respect to service operations that are not present for facilities with individually accessible drives. For example, replacing a faulted storage device can entail bringing the faulted storage device as well as other (e.g., non-faulted) storage devices offline during the service operation, which can impact the data storage services. Techniques that improve service for multi-carrier drive facilities are presented. Such techniques can improve coordination between elements that manage the storage facility and those that provide service to faulted storage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventor: Alex Joseph Sanville
  • Patent number: 10909440
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. In one embodiment, an RFID tag includes an integrated circuit die. The integrated circuit die includes circuitry configured to store information and transmit the stored information responsive to reception of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The integrated circuit die also includes an antenna coupled to the circuitry. The antenna is configured to transmit and receive RFID signals. Further, the antenna and the interconnects of the circuitry are formed of a same metal, and fabricated using a same semiconductor process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dirk Preikszat, Stefan Beierke, Norbert Asche
  • Patent number: 10877842
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a storage controller. The storage controller includes host data segmentation logic to divide, in response to a write command from a host domain to write a data payload to a storage device, the data payload into a plurality of data segments; cyclic redundancy check (CRC) encode logic to generate a CRC code for each data segment; and CRC reordering encode logic to assign each CRC code to another data segment among the plurality of data segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tung Nguyen, Sri Krishna Karthik Koka
  • Patent number: 10873358
    Abstract: A signal responding method includes: receiving a carrier signal with a frequency of 125 KHz via an antenna with a resonance frequency of 13.56 MHz; amplifying the carrier signal and performing analog-to-digital conversion on the amplified carrier signal to obtain a digital signal; acquiring, according to the digital signal, a signal characteristic of the carrier signal which comprises at least a frequency and a phase; and encoding response data at the frequency of the carrier signal to obtain an encoded signal, determining an initial phase to output the encoded signal based on the phase of the carrier signal, and outputting the encoded signal via the antenna, such that the encoded signal and the carrier signal are superposed at a same phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Tendyron Corporation
    Inventor: Dongsheng Li
  • Patent number: 10775205
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for and a device configured to generate an energy amount via a received magnetic field. A sensor may be configured to generate an output voltage based on a sensor reading by using a portion of the energy amount and a diode biased in its active region via a resistor may generate an operating voltage to shift the output voltage into a positive region. The resistor may be configured to modify an operating voltage of the diode by using a portion of the energy amount. An analog to digital converter may be configured to receive a combined voltage or to combine received voltages to convert a combined voltage such that a combined voltage is the output voltage shifted by or added to the operating voltage. A transmitter may transmit a sensor output based on the combined voltage by using a portion of the energy amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FLEX, LTD.
    Inventor: Marco De Angeli
  • Patent number: 10759454
    Abstract: A system for testing trainline communications includes a command test box, a remote test box, and a controller. The command test box is coupled to a first electric coupler at a first end of a consist including one or more cars of a railroad train. The command test box applies a test signal to the first electric coupler and wirelessly transmits an indication of the test signal. The remote test box is coupled to a second electric coupler at a second end of the consist, and determines whether the test signal is present at the second electric coupler and wirelessly transmits an indication of the test signal. The controller communicates wirelessly with the test boxes to determine whether the test signal has successfully traversed the consist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Diagnosys Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Patrick Rodney
  • Patent number: 10733394
    Abstract: A smart tag reading system is provided that has the ability to query sensor tags that have energy harvesting capability. In one embodiment, an adaptive reader system learns the state of each tag and how long the tag takes to charge. Tags that charge relatively quickly can be accessed more frequently. Others that do not charge as quickly, readings can be performed at much longer intervals allowing the tag a longer time to gather enough energy to complete the transaction. The reader query system can then adapt to the environment and state of the individual tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Kelly, Pavel Nikitin
  • Patent number: 10719672
    Abstract: An asset tag apparatus and methods of monitoring assets with an asset tag are provided. The asset tag apparatus includes a housing and a wireless transmitter located within the housing. A processor is located within the housing, wherein the processor is in communication with the wireless transmitter. An accelerometer is positioned within the housing, wherein the accelerometer is in communication with the processor, wherein a wake-up signal is transmitted from the accelerometer to the processor in response to an activation of the accelerometer, and wherein the wireless transmitter transmits a signal externally from the housing in response to the wake-up signal received by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: VYPIN, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Sengstaken, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10653567
    Abstract: An incontinence detection pad has an RFID tag in which an authentication code, such as an electronic product code (EPC), is stored. A reader in wireless communication with the RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad verifies that the incontinence detection pad is an authorized detection pad. Thus, unauthorized incontinence detection pads that do not have the proper authentication code are not able to be used in an incontinence detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Weidman, Gavin M. Monson, John D. Christie, James D. Voll
  • Patent number: 10637217
    Abstract: Motor control centers have units or buckets with one or more sliding shutters that controllably block access to a stab isolation port based on position of the operator disconnect handle using attached cams that slide the shutter right and left. A front panel of the unit or bucket may also be configured to pivot out about a long axis associated with a bottom long side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Stephen William Oneufer, Robert Allan Morris, Daniel Boyd Kroushl
  • Patent number: 10628726
    Abstract: Systems for switchable RFID tags responsive to an environmental sensor are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a RFID tag having an antenna and an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the antenna, a plurality of sensor devices electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, and an electrical connection between the integrated circuit and the plurality of sensor devices. The integrated circuit is configured to sense whether each of the plurality of sensor device is in a conductive state or in a non-conductive state, and produce a different output based on the state of the each of the plurality of sensor devices. The output is adapted to be transmitted through the antenna to a reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEMPTIME CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ravi Bhatia, Mohannad Abdo
  • Patent number: 10607044
    Abstract: A multi-mode, preferably dual mode, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is adapted for automatic detection of whether a RFID reader located within communication range of the RFID tag is transmitting a continuous wave (CW) or modulated wave types of RF signal, and accordingly, mandating a response from the tag in read-only (RO) mode or read/write (R/W) mode, respectively. The tag includes means for designating one of the RO and R/W operating modes as a default mode of the tag, and for switching the tag from its default mode to its other operating mode, and vice versa, according to a rule for determining the frequency of occurrence of a selected event related to signal type of the reader. A device-implemented method of this automatic detection, and a method of fabricating the tag, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Amtech Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly Gravelle, Robert W. Tiernay, Dale L. Scott, Charles A. Johnson, Filip Weytjens, Matthew K. Burnett
  • Patent number: 10534939
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a population of RFID tags. In various aspects, an RFID reader implements one or more RFID protocols to execute a read cycle that defines a series of actions for the RFID reader to perform. The read cycle may begin by the RFID reader broadcasting a query to deselected RFID tags to generate a list of deselected tag identifiers. The read cycle then causes the RFID reader to broadcast a query to selected RFID tags to track selected RFID tags. Finally, the read cycle causes the RFID reader to broadcast a selection command that includes the list of deselected tag identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David Bellows
  • Patent number: 10514734
    Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of functional modules connected by a bus, each functional module comprising a photo emitter and a photo receiver, to transmit photo signals between two adjacent modules. A method for addressing the functional modules, wherein a control module broadcasts respective unique addresses to the bus and a photo enquiry signal to its downstream module to trigger the latter to pick up an address. Each module provides a photo enquiry signal to its downstream module, after it has picked up an address from the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: DINKLE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shang-Tsai Wu
  • Patent number: 10484037
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a first oscillator configured to generate a first oscillation frequency associated with an RF signal, a second oscillator configured to generate a second oscillation frequency associated with a clock frequency, a counter configured to generate a counter output signal using the first oscillation frequency and the second oscillation frequency, and a comparer configured to generate a digital output signal associated with the RF signal by comparing an output value of the counter output signal to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok Ju Yun
  • Patent number: 10455816
    Abstract: An apparatus or a method for detecting activity quantity of an object includes a sense unit, a count unit, a trigger unit, and a radio circuit. The sense unit senses movements of the object, and generates a sensing signal based on the sensed movements. The count unit receives the sensing signal from the sense unit, counts a number of the movements from the sensing signal, and generates a movement number signal including the number of the movements. The trigger unit generates a trigger signal based on whether one or more trigger conditions are satisfied. The radio circuit is triggered in response to the trigger signal, to generate an activity quantity signal based on the movement number signal and ID information corresponding to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Duan, Guoqiang Hu, Jingchang Huang, Peng Ji, Jun Zhu
  • Patent number: 10455682
    Abstract: A consumable component for a thermal processing torch is provided. The consumable component includes a consumable component body and a signal device located on or within the consumable component body for transmitting a signal associated with the consumable component. The signal can be independent of a detectable physical characteristic of the consumable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Michael Shipulski, Richard Anderson, Peter Brahan, Wayne Chin, Stephen Liebold, Guy Best, Jon Lindsay
  • Patent number: 10452877
    Abstract: An access control reader includes a credential interface and a network interface. The access control reader includes a processor coupled to the credential interface and the network interface and computer memory coupled with the processor and comprising instructions that are executable by the processor. The instructions comprise instructions to determine that the access control reader has been connected to a power source, and instructions to monitor activity at the credential interface after the access control reader has been connected to the power source. The instructions comprise instructions that cause the access control reader to enter either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation dependent upon whether or not activity is detected at the credential interface within a threshold amount of time after the access control reader has been connected to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventors: Flaviu Cristian Chis, Bryan Stephen Holloway, John Frame
  • Patent number: 10447083
    Abstract: A charger including a class E power driver, a frequency-shift keying (“FSK”) module, and a processor. The processor can receive data relating to the operation of the class E power driver and can control the class E power driver based on the received data relating to the operation of the class E power driver. The processor can additionally control the FSK module to modulate the natural frequency of the class E power transformer to thereby allow the simultaneous recharging of an implantable device and the transmission of data to the implantable device. The processor can additionally compensate for propagation delays by adjusting switching times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: THE ALFRED E. MANN FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
    Inventors: Brian R. Dearden, James H. Wolfe, Manish Khemani
  • Patent number: 10447406
    Abstract: Magnetic antenna techniques and devices are disclosed for operating at an RF or microwave frequency by using a magnetic antenna structure having a spatially varying property that varies spatially from one location to another location in at least a portion of the magnetic antenna structure. Such a spatially varying property can be reflected in various ways, e.g., a spatially varying geometry profile in part of or the entirety of the magnetic antenna structure, a spatially varying antenna material property in a spatially uniform geometry or a spatially varying geometry. The disclosed technology also provides magnetic antenna structures based on splitting the componentry for transmission and reception so that each can be individually optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Mark William Covington
  • Patent number: 10421419
    Abstract: A vehicle electronic control device includes: a detection unit of a power supply voltage; a power determination unit determining whether the power supply voltage is reduced below a predetermined voltage; an identification number storage unit for a vehicle identification number; a timing storage unit storing time information of reduction when the power supply voltage is reduced below the predetermined voltage; a control unit acquiring a vehicle identification number stored in an identification number storage unit and time information stored in a timing storage unit of the other electronic control device; and an identification number determination unit: determining one of the other electronic control device and the electronic control device storing newest time information in the timing storage unit as a target electronic control device; and determining that a vehicle identification number stored in the identification number storage unit of the target electronic control device is a correct identification number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 10361751
    Abstract: A modulation index setting circuit of a near field communication (NFC) device, includes a current detector. The current detector generates a reference current based on detecting a transmitter current flowing in a transmitter of the NFC device respectively during a non-modulation interval, and generates a modulation current based on detecting the transmitter current flowing in the transmitter of the NFC device during a modulation interval. The modulation index setting circuit changes the transmitter current based on applying a driving strength control code to the transmitter, receives the reference current and the modulation current, calculates modulation indexes associated with separate, respective code values of the driving strength control code and generates a modulation index table that stores the modulation indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byeong-Taek Moon, Il-Jong Song, Sung-Hye Choi, Tae-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 10346648
    Abstract: A multi-mode, preferably dual mode, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is adapted for automatic detection of whether a RFID reader located within communication range of the RFID tag is transmitting a continuous wave (CW) or modulated wave types of RF signal, and accordingly, mandating a response from the tag in read-only (RO) mode or read/write (R/W) mode, respectively. The tag includes means for designating one of the RO and R/W operating modes as a default mode of the tag, and for switching the tag from its default mode to its other operating mode, and vice versa, according to a rule for determining the frequency of occurrence of a selected event related to signal type of the reader. A device-implemented method of this automatic detection, and a method of fabricating the tag, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AMTECH SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly Gravelle, Robert W. Tiernay, Dale L. Scott, Charles A. Johnson, Filip Weytjens, Matthew K. Burnett
  • Patent number: 10343532
    Abstract: A vehicle capable of receiving an electric power in a contactless manner includes a vehicle body and a power reception apparatus. A first region made of aluminum or formed so that a magnetic permeability and an electric resistance thereof are lower than a magnetic permeability and an electric resistance of aluminum, respectively, is provided at a position on one side in a reference direction relative to the power reception apparatus. A space and/or a second region formed so that a magnetic permeability and an electric resistance thereof are higher than the magnetic permeability and the electric resistance of the first region, respectively, is provided at a position on the other side in the reference direction. A winding axis of a power receiving coil is placed at a position deviating toward the one side in the reference direction from a central position in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yuasa
  • Patent number: 10332069
    Abstract: In some embodiments, system, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful for managing retail product inventory including a plurality of sensors configured to detect individual presence of multiple different products within a retail shopping facility. A central control system communicatively coupled with the plurality of sensors to receive sensor information comprising identifiers detected by the plurality of sensors. The central control system comprises a central control circuit coupled with memory storing code that when implemented causes the central control circuit to: access the received sensor information and determine, at a current time and for each detected first product, a confidence value corresponding to a level of confidence that the first product is still present and within a first threshold area corresponding to a first location where the first product was most recently sensed. The confidence value may decay over time proportional to a first decay period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Stiefel, Justin C. Moore, Richard B. Penn
  • Patent number: 10321664
    Abstract: An apparatus or a method for detecting activity quantity of an object includes a sense unit, a count unit, a trigger unit, and a radio circuit. The sense unit senses movements of the object, and generates a sensing signal based on the sensed movements. The count unit receives the sensing signal from the sense unit, counts a number of the movements from the sensing signal, and generates a movement number signal including the number of the movements. The trigger unit generates a trigger signal based on whether one or more trigger conditions are satisfied. The radio circuit is triggered in response to the trigger signal, to generate an activity quantity signal based on the movement number signal and ID information corresponding to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ning Duan, Guoqiang Hu, Jingchang Huang, Peng Ji, Jun Zhu
  • Patent number: 10325431
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a mobile device, in particular a mobile Passive Keyless Entry, PKE, key device, and an associated method for providing 3D field values of a magnetic field H; an evaluation device for use in a PKE system having a Mobile device and an associated method for determining the direction of a magnetic field vector H=(x, y, z), which is present locally at a position of a 3D antenna of the mobile device; and a PKE system having a PKE base structure, to which preferably the mobile device is associated and which has at least a first base structure antenna, which is operable to emit the, particularly low frequency, magnetic field, the mobile PKE device and the evaluation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eber, Bernhard Spiess, Marcin Tomasz Bawolski, Matja{hacek over (z)} Gu{hacek over (s)}tin
  • Patent number: 10304355
    Abstract: Guiding the blind includes receiving, via a camera module, a signal sent from a processing module to instruct the camera module to take an image of an informational blind pathway including a digital object identifier, capturing, via the camera module, the image of the informational blind pathway, sending, via the camera module, the image to the processing module, receiving and analyzing, via the processing module, the image sent by the camera module, acquiring, via the processing module, information included in the digital object identifier in the image of the informational blind pathway, converting, via the processing module, the information included in the digital object identifier into speech information, and outputting the speech information to be played on an audio device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventor: Wei Guo
  • Patent number: 10271733
    Abstract: Bubbles (118-122) are utilized in some embodiments as part of a photoacoustic contrast agent (162) and, in some embodiments, to localize one or more locations (126-38) of a source of acoustic energy. The bubbles, such as microbubbles, can be used in proximity of nanoparticles of a first photoacoustic contrast agent, thereby affording a second photoacoustic contrast agent. The bubbles can intercept and re-radiate acoustic energy emitted by light-based activation of the first photoacoustic contrast agent in the immediate vicinity of the bubbles. As a further option, if the nanoparticles permeate further to tissue structures but remain in close enough proximity, their positions can be triangulated by the nearby bubbles, based on direction (144-148) and time delays (150-160) of ultrasound received by a transducer array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: William Tao Shi, Ladislav Jankovic
  • Patent number: 10275618
    Abstract: A system and method of selectively reading sensor data from a memory device is able to search the memory device for an indicator that identifies the sensor data, and read only the sensor data identified by the indicator from the memory device. In this way, interrogating devices are able to sort through sensor data stored in a network of memory devices, such as an RFID network, and report specific data of interest despite the existence of a variety of data types in the network. In some embodiments, flags are stored and associated with specific types of data, such as various sensor data, thereby allowing numerous memory devices and sensors to operate and be read efficiently in the same environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.
    Inventor: H. Sprague Ackley