Monitoring In Addition To Control (e.g., Supervisory) Patents (Class 340/3.1)
  • Patent number: 12293427
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for detecting non-compliant use of a micro-mobility vehicle, for example, based on parking the micro-mobility vehicle outside of a designated area. In an embodiment, a processor detects that a micro-mobility vehicle shared by a plurality of users has transitioned from an operational state to a parked state, where the micro-mobility vehicle was operated by a user of the plurality of users when in the operational state. The processor determines a location of the micro-mobility vehicle while the micro-mobility vehicle is in the parked state, and evaluates whether it is permissible to transition the micro-mobility vehicle to the parked state at the location. Responsive to determining that it is not permissible to transition to the parked state at the location, the processor updates a profile of the user to indicate non-compliant use of the micro-mobility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Hugh Wells, Gregory Mark Mahowald, Lucie Zikova, Aaron Matthew Rogan
  • Patent number: 12287106
    Abstract: The present application discloses an air conditioner control method. The method includes obtaining a position of a user; detecting that the position of the user meets a preset condition, and obtaining a target operating parameter of an air conditioner, the preset condition being determined according to a preset running time span, and the preset running time span being determined according to a current environmental parameter and a target environmental parameter, and the current environmental parameter comprising at least one of a current indoor temperature, a current indoor humidity, a current air cleanliness and a current air freshness; and controlling the air conditioner at a target position to operate with the target operating parameter. The present application also discloses an air conditioner, a server and a computer readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chuang Lv, Qifeng Fan, Min Pang, Haoliang Zhai, Jiwei Hei, Jingchun Liu
  • Patent number: 12235312
    Abstract: A method is provided for checking the plausibility of insulation monitoring of a high-voltage system (100) of an electric vehicle during the charging of a traction battery of the electric vehicle. The electrical insulation of the high-voltage system (100) is monitored by an insulation monitoring device (101), and a check is carried out cyclically to determine whether a further insulation monitoring device is active on a high-voltage bus of the high-voltage system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Moritz Eitler, Oliver Lehmann
  • Patent number: 12232071
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for registering usage data of a device in a building, comprising the steps of: establishing a local wireless connection with a communication module of the device, the wireless connection being a Wireless Personal Area Network, WPAN, connection compliant; defining a usage event of the device, including at least location data, time data, state data, and user data; establishing a remote wireless connection with a remote central data processing unit for logging the usage event in a usage database, the remote wireless connection comprising a data connection over a mobile telecommunications network and/or a data connection over a WLAN connection; and wherein forwarding the device usage event to the remote central data processing unit is initiated after the device usage event is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: BOEKIT B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Joannes Wilhelmus Van Herp, Johannes Hermanus Petrus Maria Donk
  • Patent number: 12135594
    Abstract: A sealed enclosure power control system for controlling power to an electrical component within an enclosure. The sealed enclosure power control system generally includes an electrical component within the sealed enclosure, a first connector on the sealed enclosure adapted to provide a sealed electrical interface to the electrical component. The first connector has at least one first connector conductor element, and the system further includes a battery within the sealed enclosure, and the system also has a second connector, wherein when the first connector and the second connector are connected together, electrical power from the battery is applied to the electrical component, and when the first connector and the second connector are not connected together, the electrical power is not applied to the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: BWR Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Travis J. DeJong, Adam C. Jorgenson, Thomas S. Wohl, Joel A. Jorgenson
  • Patent number: 12128546
    Abstract: A robotic device control system is described. The robotic device control system includes: a radio base station for wireless communication with a robotic device; a beamforming controller coupled or integral to the radio base station for controlling beamforming between the radio base station and the robotic device; and a robotic device controller coupled to the beamforming controller, wherein the robotic device controller is configured to control the robotic device via the radio base station; wherein the robotic device control system is configured to provide an instruction, derived by the robotic device control system based on radio beam propagation information of the wireless communication between the radio base station and the robotic device, to the beamforming controller for controlling beamforming between the radio base station and the robotic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Sándor Rácz, Norbert Reider, Geza Szabo
  • Patent number: 12118868
    Abstract: A child monitoring device has a plurality of sensors to sense data relating to a child to be monitored, a wireless communications unit and a processing unit. The processing unit is able to receive signals from the sensors, receive data relating to the child input via said wireless communications unit, cause the wireless communications unit to wirelessly communicate with an external database to receive data, process the signals received from said sensors to determine child development conditions, compare determined child development conditions with the data received from external database, and cause said wireless communications unit to transmit messages containing child development information for reception by an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: The BabyPlus Company, LLC
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Mueller, Julie Louly
  • Patent number: 12107632
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating light based communications includes a transceiver, a processing device, and a user interface device. The transceiver includes light emitters and a light receiver. The light emitters emit light. The light receiver is configured for detecting an incoming light signal. The processing device is operatively coupled with the transceiver. The processing device is configured for generating an incoming coded message based on the detecting, decoding the incoming coded message into an incoming message, provisioning the incoming message based on the decoding, obtaining an outgoing message, encoding the outgoing message based on the obtaining of the outgoing message, generating an encoded outgoing message based on the encoding, and generating a command for the transceiver based on the encoding of the encoded outgoing message. Further, at least one of the light emitters is configured for emitting an outgoing light signal based on the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Inventor: Steven Wayne Newell
  • Patent number: 12108510
    Abstract: A smart socket has an off setting, an on setting, and a manual switch to switch manually between the off setting and the on setting. An automatic switch mode provides for switching automatically between the off setting and the on setting, based on time and/or on sensor input. The socket also has a Sabbath mode, wherein the manual switch is disabled and the automatic switching is based on time or on a predetermined set of sensors, wherein the smart socket is configured to enter the Sabbath mode based on Sabbaths and/or festivals using the Hebrew calendar and locally calculated daylight times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: S.B.I.D Solutions, Enterprise and Investments Ltd.
    Inventors: Shemon Cohen, Itamar Cohen
  • Patent number: 12073019
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a controlled device via an activation accessory of a wearable device that includes a moveable actuator, a sensor, and a communication element. The sensor is coupled to a controller, which has an output coupled to a control signal interface. The controller is programmed to receive and evaluate input signals from the sensor that are responsive to movements of the moveable actuator to determine whether or not they represent a command for the controlled device by assessing the input signals for a signal pattern indicative of a plurality of volitional actions of a wearer of the activation accessory. If/when the processor determines that the input signals represent the command, then it decodes the command and transmits an associated control signal to the controlled device via the control signal interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Hourglass Medical LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy B. Ross
  • Patent number: 12040913
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device (1) for obtaining a sensor signal for use in a system (11) which changes a sensing function in dependence on a light setting. The electronic device is configured to obtain a sensor signal from a sensor (9) and select based on data stored in a memory (7) which device and/or application of a plurality of devices (21, 31, 45, 46) and/or applications the sensor signal should be transmitted to. The selection depends on which light setting is currently active on one or more light devices (13-15). The sensor is arranged to sense in a field of view. The electronic device is further configured to transmit the sensor signal to the selected device and/or application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Bartel Marinus Van De Sluis, Anthonie Hendrik Bergman, Tim Dekker, Dirk Valentinus René Engelen, Jochen Renaat Van Gheluwe, Berent Willem Meerbeek
  • Patent number: 12010251
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electric border gateway device which adopts the blockchain technology to implement communication authentication and data transmission encryption at the gateway. As a device for sinking and processing local information, the border gateway device may build not only a local blockchain network with a variety of local electric sensing terminal devices, but also a regional blockchain network with other border gateways and electric management platforms. As a critical node of these two types of blockchain, the border gateway may enable the authentication of identity legality between electric sensing terminal devices, the critical data storage in the blockchain ledger, the deployment and implementation of blockchain transaction by control and coordinated functions, and the safe and reliable data interaction. The present disclosure also discloses a method for chaining and storage of sensing data based on the electric border gateway device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Jiangsu Zhirong Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuan He, Hui Liu, Yan Wang, Yao Sun
  • Patent number: 11960256
    Abstract: A method for operating a plurality of devices which each contain at least one electrical or gas consumer, with the following steps: before switching on the consumer, the device asks an allocation module whether the process can be started, on the basis of parameters of the requested process, parameters of currently running and/or planned processes of the other consumers and a predefined maximum power value, the allocation module decides whether the requested process is enabled, modified or at least temporarily disabled. A system having a plurality of devices which each have at least one electrical or gas consumer as well as a controller, and having an allocation module in which a maximum power value for the consumers is stored, wherein the controller of the devices can send information about planned and current processes via a communication link to the allocation module and receive an enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: RATIONAL AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, RATIONAL INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Manfred Breunig, Florian Löw, Frank Marek
  • Patent number: 11908313
    Abstract: A lighting system and method of use is disclosed for use with an underground passageway. The lighting system includes a base station having at least one power source, and a plurality of light modules extending from the base station in a serial arrangement and spaced at least partially along a length of a passageway. Each light module is capable of emitting light for ordinary operations within the passageway and at least one visual signal. The system further includes at least one cable extending from the base station and interconnecting the light modules with the base station and the power source and a controller operatively associated with the base station and in communication with at least one sensor configured to sense an environmental condition. The controller is configured to continuously monitor said sensor and activate the at least one visual signal when an abnormal or emergency environmental condition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: IOT AUTOMATION GLOBAL PTY LTD
    Inventors: Robin Paine, Greg James
  • Patent number: 11883346
    Abstract: An improved walking device is disclosed wherein the device comprises an elongated body, a movable arm coupled to the elongated body, a power source connector, a first sensor, a releaser, a first spring, wherein the first sensor is capable of detecting an orientation of the device and producing an electronic signal based on the orientation, wherein the electronic signal is capable of at least partially causing a movement of the releaser, wherein the releaser is capable of nudging the movable arm away from a resting position, and wherein the first spring is capable of causing the movable arm to rotate to a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventors: Gary L. Schroeder, Frank Sivo, Wang Su
  • Patent number: 11867729
    Abstract: A system for generation of electrical power including an inverter connected to a photovoltaic source including a theft prevention and detection feature. A first memory is permanently attached to the photovoltaic source. The first memory is configured to store a first code. A second memory is attached to the inverter. The second memory configured to store a second code. During manufacture or installation of the system, the first code is stored in the first memory attached to the photovoltaic source. The second code based on the first code is stored in the second memory. Prior to operation of the inverter, the first code is compared to the second code and based on the comparison; the generation of the electrical power is enabled or disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Guy Sella, Meir Adest, Meir Gazit, Lior Handelsman, Ilan Yoscovich, Amir Fishelov, Yaron Binder, Yoav Galin
  • Patent number: 11863342
    Abstract: A control method for a home system includes obtaining the power curve of a household appliance to be run; obtaining power curves of all the currently running household appliances; and, if the power curve of the household appliance to be run and that of at least one currently running household appliance meet an off-peak running condition, making the household appliance to be run and the currently running household appliance run within an off-peak period of time. Without affecting the running states of all the currently running household appliances, the method can connect the household appliance to be run to a circuit, meets the demand of a user for making the household appliance to be run and the currently running household appliances simultaneously work, and does not exceed the load of the circuit, thereby improving the overall working efficiency of the home system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinzhu Deng, Sheng Xu, Peishi Lv, Hai Shu
  • Patent number: 11828872
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and monitoring human breathing, respiration, and heart rate using statistics about the wireless channel between two or more connected devices. A user is monitored for identifying patterns in the user's behavior that may allow the system to alert a caregiver to deviations in the user behavior that may be indicative of a potential issue, such as depression. A presence may further detected in a sensing area through the detection of spectral components in the breathing frequency range of comprises user includes transforming phase difference between spatial streams and amplitude of the samples representing frequency response of the channel for any frequency value into frequency domain to perform frequency analysis. Statistical analysis may be performed on the frequency space provided by the transformation. Micro motions may also be detected by detecting presence in a sensing area through the detection of spectral components in the micro motion frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Aerial Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Allegue Martinez, Negar Ghourchian, David Grant, Francois Morel, Pauline Tranchant, Amir Minayi Jalil
  • Patent number: 11804978
    Abstract: A network hub device used for building a simple network configuration in an in-vehicle network system is provided. A network hub device (35) is coupled to a trunk network and performs input/output of a signal to/from an in-vehicle device via a plurality of device side communication ports. A signal conversion section (35a, 35b) configured to perform signal conversion between a digital control signal and an analog control signal is provided between a trunk side communication port and an analog port. A second signal conversion section (70) configured to perform signal conversion between a digital control signal and an analog control signal is provided between a digital port (49) and a predetermined in-vehicle device (353).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sadahisa Yamada, Yoshimasa Kurokawa, Tetsuhiro Yamashita, Masaaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11803222
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a SSD in response to a power failure event of a main power supply to the SSD. The method includes receiving and storing write commands and associated data payloads for execution on the SSD in volatile memory, detecting the power failure event on the SSD, supplying backup power to the SSD during the power failure event, and executing one or more write commands stored in the volatile memory by storing the associated data payloads in a non-volatile memory on the SSD using the backup power. In response to the execution, removing the one or more write commands from the cache such that one or more unexecuted write commands and the associated data payloads remain in the cache, and storing a list of the one or more unexecuted write commands, but not the associated data payloads, in non-volatile memory using the backup power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Wells, Robert Reed
  • Patent number: 11787368
    Abstract: In some exemplary processes for accessing a vehicle, a transit request is initiated. The transit request summons a vehicle towards a location of a user device. Information generated in response to the transit request is received. The information includes first authentication information and second authentication information. Third authentication information from the vehicle is received using a first wireless communication protocol. A determination is made as to whether the third authentication information corresponds to the first authentication information. In accordance with determining that the third authentication information corresponds to the first authentication information, a wireless communication connection is established with the vehicle using a second wireless communication protocol and the second authentication information. The second wireless communication protocol is different from the first wireless communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Donald J. Novotney, James J. Reuther, Birju N. Shah, Kurt R. Stiehl
  • Patent number: 11782394
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a premises are described. A gateway device may monitor a plurality of devices at a premises. A mobile device may receive, from the gateway device, data indicative of one or more events of the plurality of devices. The mobile device may output a user interface comprising status information associated with the plurality of devices. The user interface may allow for user input to generate control operations associated with the premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Raji, Gerald Gutt
  • Patent number: 11776376
    Abstract: An integrated flood monitoring unit comprises a sensor capable of at least detecting one or more floodwater levels or measuring water levels and assembly of a data acquisition module, and a wireless transmitter that is specially adapted to be mounted one top and at least partially inside of a hollow pole secured in a vertical orientation at a fixed geographical location to monitor water levels, with the sensor being located nearer the bottom of the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Mark J. Avery, Stephen R. Tennis, II, Michael M. Reese
  • Patent number: 11755007
    Abstract: A system for determining a health condition and an anomaly of a field equipment 104 is provided. The system includes sensors 106A-N which sense information associated with the equipment 104, a field device 110 which receives the sensor data from sensors 106A-N, a camera unit 108 that captures visual data of the equipment 104 and a server 112. The server 112 includes a database 114 that stores the sensor data and the visual data. The server 112 further includes a fault detection module 202 that processes the sensor data to determine a fault or the health condition of the equipment 104, an image processing module 204 that is trained to detect the irregularities/anomaly in the equipment 104 by processing the visual data, and a report generation module 206 that generates an automated health report 212 based on the detected anomaly and the health condition of the equipment 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: JEF TECHNO SOLUTIONS, PVT LTD
    Inventor: Prashanth Belur Gururaja Rao
  • Patent number: 11749046
    Abstract: A tracking system, wireless device, and method. The tracking system includes sensors receiving one or more inaudible tones from an electronic device detected by at least one of the sensors. The tracking system includes a server in communication with the sensors identifies a location of the electronic device in response to detecting the one or more inaudible tones associated with the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ADIO, LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel T. Bradley, William Talmage, Joshua S. Paugh, Robert Dromerhauser
  • Patent number: 11739564
    Abstract: A method of operating a door system includes sensing a user on an exterior side of a door panel in physical propinquity to the lock such that the lock transitions from a sleep state to an active state, authenticating the user when the lock is in the active state before converting the lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration, and converting the lock from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in response to transition to the active state. Authenticating the user includes receiving an authentication signal from a remote device on the user in physical propinquity to the to the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Endura Products, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Kendall, Tomasz Jaskiewicz
  • Patent number: 11743703
    Abstract: A personal help button and the administrator part of a personal emergency response system are provided, in which verbal audio is converted into a low bandwidth format signal. A conversation algorithm is used which comprises a trained neural network. The low bandwidth format has a bandwidth below 500 bits/second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Lifeline Systems Company
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Andreas Marinus Arnoldus Maria Van Den Dungen
  • Patent number: 11736836
    Abstract: A mobile security system and device that provides a physically secured network device to extends a home network anywhere in the world where there is access to power is disclosed. The mobile security system and device has integrated logical and physical security and may be transported into an area with no internet connection and be self-sufficient and secured. The mobile security system and device includes a housing enclosing a computing apparatus, an access control mechanism to secure a door of the housing in a closed position, and a security control module to protect the data stored on the computing apparatus and provide authentication to access the enclosure. A back-up power supply supported by the housing and a wireless router to provide wireless network access to the remote home network may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DENG IP HOLDER, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Tan
  • Patent number: 11698678
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a controlled device via an activation accessory of a wearable device that includes a moveable actuator, a sensor, and a communication element. The sensor is coupled to a controller, which has an output coupled to a control signal interface. The controller is programmed to receive and evaluate input signals from the sensor that are responsive to movements of the moveable actuator to determine whether or not they represent a command for the controlled device by assessing the input signals for a signal pattern indicative of a plurality of volitional actions of a wearer of the activation accessory. If/when the processor determines that the input signals represent the command, then it decodes the command and transmits an associated control signal to the controlled device via the control signal interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Hourglass Medical LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy B. Ross
  • Patent number: 11696383
    Abstract: An illumination system and method of ground and other illuminating that comprises a plurality of sensors that scan/detect the exterior area around the vehicle and at least one controller, the system selectively turning on/off a series of lighting elements placed strategically around the vehicle to allow light to be directed to at least one ground or other surface at the persons at all times or any predetermined time. A controller is provided to activate ground lighting in coordination with sensor signals identifying where an individual or object are located in predetermined proximity to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
    Inventors: Larry R. Erickson, Robert M. Horner
  • Patent number: 11675421
    Abstract: A time-multiplexing resonant drive scheme is described that reuses an inductor circuit for multiple functional purposes in a Mixed Reality (MR) device. A driver circuit and a multiplexer circuit are dynamically configured by a controller circuit for three operating modes. In the first mode, energy is coupled from a battery to the inductor circuit in a forward direction to charge the inductor circuit and generate a positive power supply voltage. In the second mode, energy is coupled from to the inductor circuit in a reverse direction to charge the inductor circuit and generate a negative power supply voltage. In the third mode, the inductor is operated with an antenna as part of a resonance drive circuit, where facial movements of the user can be detected based on the response. Reduced component count and reduced cost requirements are achieved by the described scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Chang Joon Park, Martin Francis Galinski, III
  • Patent number: 11667271
    Abstract: In a method for activating and deactivating a control unit which can be used to control an electrically activatable assembly, the control unit is switched between a waking state, a sleep state and a deactivated state, wherein in the sleep state, the control device is disabled but can be transferred into the waking state by means of a sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Stoehr, Christian Jelenowski, Frank Baehrle-Miller, Steffen Zechmeister
  • Patent number: 11668041
    Abstract: A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation includes a treating chamber for receiving the at least one item for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation, a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container having an electrically conductive element, a physical alteration element located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and operable to physically alter at least a portion of the electrically conductive element and a sensor for sensing the physical alteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Brian A. Black, Thomas A. Latack, Matthew D. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11662450
    Abstract: An occupant detection device (e.g., sensor) may include an occupant detection circuit (e.g., a radar occupant detection circuit) and a control circuit. The occupant detection circuit may determine the location of an occupant in a space with reference to a global coordinate associated with the detection circuit and the control circuit may transform the location of the occupant into a local coordinate system associated with a region of interest in the space. The control circuit may use the location information to determine whether the occupant has entered or left the region of interest and adjust an occupant count for the region of interest based on the determination. The control circuit may acquire knowledge about the region of interest during a configuration or commissioning procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: James P. Steiner
  • Patent number: 11640589
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an information processing apparatus, a control method and a storage medium through which emotional values of objects can be numerically expressed on the basis of an interaction between the objects. [Solution] An information processing system including: a detection unit that detects information related to an interaction between a first object and a second object; and a generation unit that is capable of generating an emotion value of the first object and an emotion value of the second object on the basis of the information related to the interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiko Sueyoshi, Atsushi Shionozaki, Hiroshi Iwanami, Keigo Ihara, Yasushi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 11629877
    Abstract: An air conditioner is disclosed. The air conditioner includes a communicator, a memory including at least one instruction, and a processor configured to be connected to the communicator and the memory and control the air conditioner. The processor, by executing the at least one instruction, is configured to obtain information regarding a pet via the communicator, obtain an event for entering a pet mode, and based on the air conditioner entering the pet mode according to the event, control the air conditioner according to a first set value of the air conditioner corresponding to the pet based on the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nayeong Byeon, Eumoon Jung
  • Patent number: 11598542
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control device configured to collect event data from the one or more devices and to populate time entries in an occupancy history log with the event data. The event data includes a timestamp indicating a time when an event occurred, a set point temperature value for the HVAC system, and an occupancy status indicating whether a space is occupied. The device is further configured to identify blank time entries in the occupancy history log and to populate the blank time entries by forward filling the occupancy history log using event data from another time entry in the occupancy history log. The device is further configured to output the populated occupancy history log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Venkatesh, Payam Delgoshaei, Janathkumar Manohararaj
  • Patent number: 11601865
    Abstract: A server-based environment for reporting a status of a security, monitoring and automation controller is provided. Detecting cessation of an always-on persistent network connection between the SMA controller and the server is also provided. Reporting the cessation of the network connection to an end user and defined others is further provided. A further aspect provides for automatically reporting an alarm event to a central station, the end user, and others, in the event the cessation of the network connection occurs while the SMA controller is armed and after a zone fault event, and not receiving a disarm notification prior to expiration of a preset entry delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Wade Cohn, Gary Robert Faulkner, James Edward Kitchen, David Leon Proft, Corey Wayne Quain
  • Patent number: 11592199
    Abstract: Techniques for providing an adaptive energy management system for responding to extreme weather conditions are described herein. In an embodiment, a server computer stores multiple policy datasets each representing HVAC control policy for different structure locations and one or more extreme weather conditions. The server computer receives weather condition data comprising a condition identifier of a then-current extreme weather condition in association with a location identifier specifying a particular geographical region. Based on the location identifier, a particular structure location, being within the particular geographic region, is identified. Based on the particular structure location, a particular policy dataset from among the policy datasets is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: EnerAllies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Maruyama, Robert S. Keil
  • Patent number: 11586339
    Abstract: An electronic device having a flexible display screen and a processing method thereof, where bending the electronic device may cause the electronic device to switch between a smartphone mode and a wearable mode. In the wearable mode, the electronic device displays content on a part of the flexible display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaojuan Li, Wenmei Gao, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 11573568
    Abstract: A control device for an electromechanical system includes at least one group of actuators, of which in each case one actuator is configured to be coupled to a mechanical and/or hydraulic unit and is configured to control an operation of the mechanical and/or hydraulic unit. The control device further includes at least one group of functional modules, which are implemented on at least one computing platform. The at least one group of functional modules includes a plurality of control modules, each respective control module being respectively assigned to and coupled in a communicative manner to a respective actuator, and a coordinating module communicatively coupled to the plurality of control modules. The coordinating module is designed to receive, from each respective control module of the plurality of control modules, fault messages with respect to an operating state of the associated mechanical and/or hydraulic unit and/or the associated actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Daniel Stapf
  • Patent number: 11566804
    Abstract: A control system has an air conditioner that communicates with a file server via a network. The file server includes a lifestyle log in which information associating lifestyle information indicating a lifestyle with a control method of the air conditioner is accumulated. A first control-operation functional unit operates the air conditioner based on a first control request acquired from a first device. A second control-operation functional unit selects a control method from the lifestyle log based on a second control request acquired from a second device with higher functionality than the first device, and operates the air conditioner using the selected control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11564300
    Abstract: A load control system for controlling a plurality of lighting loads located in a space may be configured to track the location of one or more tracked devices. The load control system may comprise a system controller, lighting control devices, e.g., for controlling a plurality of lighting loads, and tracked devices. The tracked devices may each transmit beacon messages. The lighting control devices may receive the beacon message. The lighting control devices may measure a communication quality metric of each of the beacon messages, and process the measured communication quality metrics received over a period of time to determine a processed communication quality metric for the tracked device. The lighting control devices may transmit tracking data to the system controller. The system controller may determine a location of the tracked device. For example, the system controller may determine the location of the tracked device via trilateration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Camden, Vidur Garg, Jeffrey S. Hayes
  • Patent number: 11542148
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a tank, an electric heating element, a dispenser to dispense liquid from the tank, and a controller configured to initiate a user-responsive heating operation. The user-responsive heating operation includes recording data regarding dispensed liquid amount and temperature, developing an expected heating pattern for the electric heating element, detecting a user, and directing the electric heating element accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11535266
    Abstract: A driving system for a vehicle includes one or more sensors, a controller, an actuator, and a safety shut down switch. The controller includes a main processing circuit, a main processing module, an actuator drive, a safety processing circuit, a safety processing module, and a safety shutdown switch. The safety processing module is independent of the main processing module, and the safety processing module is configured to perform one or more safety functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions II Technology A/S
    Inventors: Yolanda Petre, Peter Maria Lauer
  • Patent number: 11531910
    Abstract: An artificial intelligence server can include a communication interface configured to communicate with a display device and a refrigerator; and a processor configured to in response to the display device displaying an image including a dish, acquire dish information about the dish included in the image displayed on the display device, receive, from the refrigerator, available ingredient information about ingredients in the refrigerator, and transmit, to the display device, information about making the dish by using the ingredients in the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yoohyun Choi
  • Patent number: 11517113
    Abstract: A furniture system includes an office productivity structure (OPS). The furniture system also includes a sensor coupled to the OPS, the sensor operable to detect occupancy of the OPS and generate an output signal indicative of the occupancy; and a processor coupled to the sensor. The processor is operable to receive the output signal generated by the sensor, determine, based on the output signal, that the OPS is occupied, and, in response to determining that the OPS is occupied, generate a command to initiate at least one action associated with the OPS or an operator of the OPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MillerKnoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hoyt, Daniel Rucker, Joseph Doran, Brian Alexander, Adam Daley-Fell
  • Patent number: 11513587
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a mounting portion configured to be attached to a head of a user, an image display unit disposed in the mounting portion and configured to display an image to be visually recognized by the user, a state detection unit configured to detect a first state in which the mounting portion is attached to the head and a second state in which the mounting portion is detached from the head, and a display control unit configured to cause the image display unit to stop displaying an image when the state detection unit detects the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robina Atsuchi
  • Patent number: 11508166
    Abstract: A method of providing information about an object in a refrigerator is provided. The method includes: obtaining, using a camera, an image of a plurality of objects stored in the refrigerator; displaying the image on a display of the refrigerator; receiving a first user input indicating a first object from among the plurality of objects included in the image; and displaying a substitute image of the first object on the display based on the first user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaehwan Kim, Taehoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11481037
    Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for a user to communicate with an electronic device. A processor receives user intention actions comprising facial expression (FE) information indicative of facial expressions and body information indicative of motion or position of one or more body parts of the user. When the FE or body information crosses a first level, the processor starts generating first signals based on the FE or body information to communicate with the electronic device. When the FE or body information crosses a second level, the processor can end generation of the first signals or modify the first signals. An image processing or eye gaze tracking system can provide some FE information or body information. The signals can modify attributes of an object of interest. Use of thresholds that are independent of sensor position or orientation with respect to the user's body are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: PERCEPTIVE DEVICES LLC
    Inventor: Uday Parshionikar