Weight Patents (Class 340/666)
  • Patent number: 8558713
    Abstract: A weight based occupant detection device that includes a weight sensing device installed in a vehicle seat in a manner effective to sense weight on a seating surface. The weight sensing device is configured to output a weight signal indicative of an occupant weight of a seat occupant residing on the vehicle seat. The occupant detection device also includes a seat orientation angle sensing device that is configured to output an orientation angle signal indicative of a seat orientation angle. The occupant detection device may also include an accelerometer for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle seat, and a seat backrest angle device for measuring the angle of the seat backrest. The occupant detection device compensates a signal from the weight sensing device for errors caused by seat orientation, seat vertical acceleration and seat backrest angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis P. Griffin, Andrew H. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20130234858
    Abstract: A weight sensing device includes a casing, a weight sensing module and a light emitting module. A container placing area and a light emitting area are defined on a surface of the casing and staggered with each other. The weight sensing module is disposed in the casing and corresponding to the container placing area. The weight sensing module records a weight threshold. The light emitting module is disposed in the casing and corresponding to the light emitting area. When a container, which contains a substance, is placed on the container placing area, the weight sensing module senses a current weight of the container and the substance and compares the current weight with the weight threshold. When the current weight is smaller than the weight threshold, the weight sensing module drives the light emitting module to emit light, which is projected through the light emitting area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicants: WINTEK CORPORATION, WINTEK (CHINA) TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Chin-Liang Chen, Zhi-Ting Ye, Ming-Chuan Lin
  • Patent number: 8531307
    Abstract: A control system of a patient support surface calculates a surface performance index as a function of pressure and shear. The control system also receives information from an electronic medical record (EMR) corresponding to a person's susceptibility of developing at least one of a pressure ulcer and a superficial lesion and adjusts at least one of a component and a characteristic of the person support surface based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Lachenbruch
  • Patent number: 8525682
    Abstract: A bed includes a frame, a controller coupled to the frame, and a patient position detection system coupled to the frame and coupled to the controller. The patient position detection system has multiple modes of operation of varying sensitivities for determining whether a person supported on the frame has moved by a sufficient amount to activate an alarm. The frame includes a plurality of barriers. An alert light is coupled to one of the barriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, Douglas J. Menkedick, William L. Jacques, II, James W. Jones, James K. Findlay, Jack Wilker, Jr., Eugene E. Osborne, Carl W. Riley
  • Patent number: 8514093
    Abstract: A sheet switch (142) has a bottom layer (144) and a top layer (160). First and second conductors (148, 162) located on the bottom layer (144) form two separate conductive paths, with a voltage potential applied to the conductors (148, 162). The top layer (160) includes a ground conductor (172). Spacers (178) are positioned between the top and bottom layers (160, 144). When forces are externally applied, the spacers (178) collapse and the ground conductor (172) contacts the first and second conductors (148, 162), and establishes a conductive path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: CHG Hospital Beds Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Roussy
  • Patent number: 8482401
    Abstract: A safety belt includes a connecting member including a rope, an attaching portion connected to a first end of the rope and arranged to be attached to a body belt worn around a body of a worker, a hook connected to a second end of the rope, and a load detection portion arranged to detect whether or not a load is applied to the connecting member and to output a load detection signal. The safety belt also includes a control device that includes a receiver unit arranged to receive the load detection signal, a control unit arranged to determine a status of the worker or a status of the safety belt based on the load detection signal, and a notification unit arranged to provide a notification in accordance with control by the control unit corresponding to the determined status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Techno Links International, Inc., Fujii Denko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Morino, Akitomo Kozuki, Michihiro Murata
  • Patent number: 8477039
    Abstract: A system for producing information about the posture of a user applying pressure to a seat component is provided. A sensor structure with array of sensors is connected with the seat component, with the sensors in a predetermined pattern configured to provide output signals related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component. The output of the sensors in circuit communication with a processor to provide signals to the processor related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component, and the processor provides output related to the predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Geoat, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Gleckler, Vi-Vie Ng, Daniel Whitworth, Kyle Cotner, Timothy Ryan Hall
  • Patent number: 8471721
    Abstract: A server rack includes a main body, an electronic scale, and an alarm. The main body is used for receiving a number of servers. The electronic scale includes a pressure sensor and a microcontroller. The main body presses on the pressure sensor so that the pressure sensor can measure the pressure from the main body to obtain a pressure signal. The microcontroller analyzes the pressure signal to calculating the total weight of the main body and the servers. The alarm stores a predetermined weight threshold, which is the total weight of the main body and the maximum servers that the main body can bear. The alarm also compares the measured total weight with the predetermined weight threshold. When the measured total weight is larger than the predetermined weight threshold, the alarm alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song-Lin Tong, Guang-Dong Yuan, Hai-Qing Zhou
  • Patent number: 8466801
    Abstract: The patient monitoring system comprises at least one load cell element (12) mounted in relation to a support surface, the load cell element (12) determining movement of a person on a support surface. The movement is determined based on a reference (31) measured using the load cell element (12) when the person is positioned on the support surface in a reference position and the subsequent load changes determined using the load cell element in relation to the reference. If the load change exceeds a pre-defined threshold, an alarm (18) is activated. The user is able to set the threshold value of the alarm system according to the physical condition of the patient. For example, in some cases it is necessary to he notified about any movements and in others only major movements are of interest. The patient monitoring system is able to provide a flexible means of monitoring of a patient by a nurse or carer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Huntleigh Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Hayes, Stephen Hollyoak
  • Patent number: 8456177
    Abstract: An occupant detection system that includes an electrode arranged proximate to an expected location of an occupant for generating an electric field between the electrode and the occupant proximate thereto. An electrical network coupled to the electrode forms a resonant circuit that includes the occupant as part of the resonant circuit. A controller coupled to the resonant circuit is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit indicative of an occupant presence, and a network signal magnitude at the resonant frequency indicative of a humidity value proximate to the electrode. 7. A method for detecting a vehicle applies an excitation signal to the resonant circuit, determine a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and determines a humidity value based on a network signal magnitude at the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis P. Griffin, Mark C. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8441365
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to weight monitoring systems for recovering, processing, monitoring, and managing various commodities or products stored in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: MJK Holding, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Jones, Douglas A. Kunnel
  • Patent number: 8421641
    Abstract: An object detection system, controller, and method using sub-sampling for detecting a presence of an object at the location. An electrode arranged near the location radiates an electric field that corresponds to an electrode signal that arises in response to an excitation signal. When the excitation signal is coupled to the electrode and the electric field is radiated, the electrode exhibits an electrode impedance indicative of the presence of an object. The presence of an object is detected by analyzing the electrode signal using sub-sampling. Traditionally, such electrode signals have frequencies, high enough to warrant the use of expensive high-frequency signal processing devices. Sub-sampling is a way of sampling and processing the electrode signal such that the signal processing to detect the object can be performed by a lower cost general purpose microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis P. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8421635
    Abstract: A patient bed with a multimedia system is disclosed. A patient can access a net work through the multimedia system, and to join a net meeting to chat with other patients. The multimedia system can also provide a consolidated platform of medical information for a doctor or a nurse. An input device of the patient bed may have a touch pad, which allows the patient to control the position of patient support through finger gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: Wei-Ting Liu, Wei-Hua Lu, Chih-Kuei Hu
  • Patent number: 8417422
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for vehicle passenger classification. The system may include a plurality of weight sensors installed under a seat frame to support a load of a vehicle seat, a single dummy sensor installed under the seat frame to support the load of the vehicle seat along with the plurality of weight sensors, and a passenger classification logic unit for classifying a passenger value obtained by summing sensor values of the plurality of weight sensors as either class 1 or class 2 by comparing the passenger value with a first reference and a second reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Hyeong Ho Choi, Pyoung Sik Shin, Tae In Kim, Sang Gyu Yoon, Kyu Jong Kim, Jae Haeng Yoo
  • Patent number: 8400311
    Abstract: A bed includes a frame, a controller coupled to the frame, and a patient position detection system coupled to the frame and coupled to the controller. The patient position detection system has at least three modes of operation of varying sensitivities for determining whether a person supported on the frame has moved by a sufficient amount to activate an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, Douglas J. Menkedick, William L. Jacques, James W. Jones, James K. Findlay, Jack Wilker, Jr., Eugene E. Osborne, Carl W. Riley
  • Patent number: 8395492
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for monitoring a tire are provided. An apparatus comprises a laser system comprising a number of lasers configured to identify a radius of a tire of a vehicle located on a ground, wherein a laser in the number of lasers is associated with an axle of the tire. The apparatus also comprises a tire monitoring system configured to identify a set of acceptable radii for the tire using a weight of the vehicle and information about the tire, determine whether the radius of the tire is within the set of acceptable radii, and generate an indication that the radius of the tire is not within the set of acceptable radii comprising the radius of the tire responsive to an absence of a determination that the radius of the tire is within the set of acceptable radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Trent Daryl Miller
  • Patent number: 8384530
    Abstract: A seat occupant determining apparatus includes a first load detecting sensor at a right of a seat, a second load detecting sensor at a left of the seat, a third load detecting sensor at a front or a rear of the first and second load detecting sensors, in order to detect a part of the load, respectively, a right-left sum value calculating portion calculating a right-left sum value, a threshold changing portion for changing an occupant determining threshold on the basis of the load value of the third load detecting sensor, and an occupant determining portion determining an occupant of the seat to be an adult when the right-left sum value is equal to or more than the occupant determining threshold and determining an occupant of the seat to be a child in a child seat when the right-left sum value is less than the occupant determining threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Muneto Inayoshi, Akira Enomoto, Hiroyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 8384517
    Abstract: A label for a product includes an electronic display for displaying label information. The digital label includes an operating system program with an applications interface to allow development of custom applications by manufacturers, retailers, and users of the product. The digital label also includes a communications interface enable communication with external devices, such as other computer systems. The processor in the digital label can process, display, and transmit information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mil. Digital Labeling Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Chu
  • Patent number: 8362911
    Abstract: Device for vehicle seat occupancy detection, wherein a base frame which can be adjusted in the height direction of a vehicle seat and which is composed of at least two scissors arms which are connected to one another is arranged between a seat part of the vehicle seat and a vehicle body part, the device comprising a first detector which is attached to at least one of the scissors arms and which, when the vehicle seat is occupied by a minimum weight, detects a predefinable height setting of the scissors arm which is lower than a maximum possible height setting, and at least one spring which is fixed to at least one of the scissors arms and the predefinable pretensioned spring force of which corresponds at most to the downward-acting weight force due to the minimum weight and counteracts the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Jens Kolb, Frank Himmelhuber
  • Patent number: 8362903
    Abstract: A system and method for providing enhanced weight alert notification during automated patient management is presented. A plurality of weight measurements in an automated patient environment from a weight monitoring device for a patient during an observation period is remotely obtained. A raw baseline weight for the patient is determined based on a function of the weight measurements. Irregularities in the weight measurements are identified. The raw baseline weight is processed into a baseline weight by application of a correction coefficient to the irregularities. Weight remotely measured in the automated patient environment for the patient on a substantially regular basis is obtained. Changes in the weight are identified by periodic comparison to the baseline weight. An alert notification is generated in response to the change in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Par Lindh, Donovan Benton Fellows, Timothy E. Meyer, Paul Jones, Kenneth I. Tobacman
  • Patent number: 8354936
    Abstract: A capacitive passenger detector includes: a capacitive sensor having main, sub and guard electrodes; a sensor characteristic measurement unit for applying an alternating voltage signal to each electrode and for converting a current in each electrode to a voltage; and a controller. The controller defines a current in the guard electrode as a reference current when voltages of the main and guard electrodes have a same potential. The controller defines a current flowing direction of the guard electrode to be negative when the voltage of the main electrode is higher than the guard electrode. The controller defines the current flowing direction of the guard electrode to be positive when the voltage of the main electrode is lower than the guard electrode. The controller corrects the voltage of the main electrode based on the current of the guard electrode so that a corrected voltage is set to be a passenger determination data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Ootaka
  • Patent number: 8354938
    Abstract: An appliance warning system comprises a floor pad which has a switch movable between an open position when no weight pressure is detected and a closed position when activated by weight pressure. A transmitter transmits a signal depending upon whether the switch is in the open or closed position. A remotely located module has a receiver for the signal from the transmitter. A control circuit is operational between a ready state before the switch is activated to the closed position and a monitoring state after the switch is activated. A warning device is activated by the control circuit when in the monitoring state when the switch has been in the open position for a preselected period of time after having been in the closed position. A reset switch resets the control circuit from the monitoring state to the ready state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventor: Rodolfo Garcia
  • Patent number: 8344863
    Abstract: The present invention relates to haptic augmented reality, and more specifically, to a method for providing haptic augmented reality that provides mixed results of a real environment and a virtual environment to a user. The present invention provides an apparatus for providing haptic augmented reality comprising a controller that calculates a repulsive force from an object and determines a driving force in consideration of the calculated repulsive force and preset stiffness; and a driver that drives a haptic device with the determined driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Seungmoon Choi, Seokhee Jeon
  • Patent number: 8330059
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel approach of utilizing a collection bin for a front loading waste collection vehicle. The collection bin includes a weighing system with a processor for measuring the weights of material collected from each waste container and associating this weight with appropriate data, such as the owner of the waste container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Curotto-Can, Inc.
    Inventor: John Michael Curotto
  • Patent number: 8321258
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system for scheduling the shipment of a set of products. The shipment may be loaded into a set of vehicles and further configured to fit a set of compartments on those vehicles. The system may include attempts to fill each vehicle and the compartments of each vehicle. The system may include evaluating a set of constraints on the shipment. The constraints may include a complex logical statement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengeselleschaft
    Inventors: Jens Gottlieb, Jochen Christoph Eckert, Thomas Engelmann, Carsten Schumm
  • Publication number: 20120286964
    Abstract: An exemplary cabinet for electronic devices includes an enclosure and an overweight alarm device disposed in the enclosure. The enclosure is for accommodating electronic devices therein. The overweight alarm device includes a weighing circuit, an A/D (Analog to Digital) converting circuit, a control circuit and a warning circuit connected in sequence. The weighing circuit includes a weighing sensor mounted at a bottom of the enclosure for sensing a weight of the cabinet. The A/D converting circuit receives the weight from the weighing sensor, converts the weight to a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the control circuit. The control circuit compares the digital signal with a threshold value contained therein, and controls the warning circuit to generate a warning when the digital signal is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: XIANG CAO, HAI-QING ZHOU
  • Patent number: 8301410
    Abstract: A method for determining a corrected weight of a mixed volume, by gravimetrically measuring a total weight of the mixed volume, creating an image of the mixed volume, detecting at least one selected component within the image of the mixed volume, estimating a component weight of the at least one selected component from the image of the mixed volume, and subtracting the component weight from the total weight to yield the corrected weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Uster Technologies AG
    Inventors: Youe-Tsyr Chu, Preston S. Baxter, Michael E. Galyon, Hossein M. Ghorashi
  • Patent number: 8287452
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for monitoring on site near an emergency field at least one vital sign of a patient reclined thereon includes a fluid bladder transformable between a stowable arrangement and a deployed arrangement. The fluid bladder in the deployed arrangement has a comfortable top surface of sufficient size to fully support at least a torso of the patient in a reclined position, and the fluid bladder has a ruggedized puncture resistant bottom layer. A sensor is configured to detect a pressure within the fluid bladder. A controller is configured to determine the at least one vital sign based on the pressure within the fluid bladder. A triage condition indicator is configured to indicate a care urgency level based on the at least one vital sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: BAM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Young, Richard V. Rifredi, Yuri Zhovnirovsky
  • Patent number: 8279057
    Abstract: A bed occupancy state detection method includes detecting loads applied to a head side right portion, a head side left portion, a foot side right portion, and a foot side left portion of a bed platform by first to fourth load detecters, respectively, judging whether or not a prescribed judgment formula is satisfied based on load values outputted from the first to fourth load detecters, and notifying information on a bed occupancy state of an object in cases where it is judged that a judgment formula is satisfied from a judgment result at the judgment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hirose
  • Patent number: 8263881
    Abstract: A weighing scale has a display unit for displaying the weight of an object loaded on a platform measured by a weight measurer, a communication unit for transmitting weight data to, or receiving from, another weighing scale, a determiner that determines whether the weighing scale is capable of communicating via the communication unit with another weighing scale, and a controller that, in a case in which a result of the determination by the determiner shows that the weighing scale is not capable of communicating with another weighing scale, controls the display unit to display weight data output by the weight measurer, and in a case in which a result of the determination by the determiner shows that the weighing scale is capable of communicating with another weighing scale, that transmits weight data to, or receives from, another weighing scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventor: Naoshi Oseko
  • Patent number: 8258963
    Abstract: A bed includes a frame, a controller coupled to the frame, and a patient position detection system coupled to the frame and coupled to the controller. The patient position detection system has at least three modes of operation of varying sensitivities for determining whether a person supported on the frame has moved by a sufficient amount to activate an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Dixon, Douglas J. Menkedick, William L. Jacques, James W. Jones, James K. Findlay, Jack Wilker, Jr., Eugene E. Osborne, Carl W. Riley
  • Patent number: 8255174
    Abstract: A method and device for determining critical buffeting loads on a structure of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises means (2, UC) implementing a semi-empirical method for determining the critical loads generated by some buffeting on the structure of the airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Guillermo Jenaro Rabadan, Juliane Havas, Stéphane Soumillon, Carole Despre-Flachard
  • Publication number: 20120182150
    Abstract: An actuator having a load weighting mechanism is disclosed. The actuator has a screw and a nut mounted around the screw and connected with a driving shaft. The driving shaft supports a load. When moving along the screw, the nut displaces the driving shaft forward and backward. The screw has a pair of thrust bearings for bearing the load, and at least one load weighting unit installed between the pair of thrust bearings for weighting the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Chiung-Yi CHIANG, Ching-Fang Hu
  • Publication number: 20120182151
    Abstract: A server rack includes a main body, an electronic scale, and an alarm. The main body is used for receiving a number of servers. The electronic scale includes a pressure sensor and a microcontroller. The main body presses on the pressure sensor so that the pressure sensor can measure the pressure from the main body to obtain a pressure signal. The microcontroller analyzes the pressure signal to calculating the total weight of the main body and the servers. The alarm stores a predetermined weight threshold, which is the total weight of the main body and the maximum servers that the main body can bear. The alarm also compares the measured total weight with the predetermined weight threshold. When the measured total weight is larger than the predetermined weight threshold, the alarm alarms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD .
    Inventors: SONG-LIN TONG, GUANG-DONG YUAN, HAI-QING ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20120161975
    Abstract: Passengers are notified as to whether an item if luggage is overweight. Information relating to a journey is received for which a passenger has a ticket and an item of luggage is weighed such that this may be compared with a maximum weight allowed for the luggage item. An extent to which the luggage is overweight is indicated so that a passenger may reduce this weight or accept that an additional payment is required. In order to provide accurate results while reducing the overall size of the data stored, information relating to a journey includes first data identifying a carrier and second data identifying a destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: WEIGH-AHEAD UKENA LIMITED
    Inventors: Carole Ann Stewart, Gerard James Stewart
  • Patent number: 8203454
    Abstract: A wheelchair alarm system and method for preventing falls for patients at risk by recognizing the gesture of a patient attempting to stand. The wheelchair alarm system uses an array of proximity sensors and pressure sensors to create a map of the patient's sitting position, and then uses gesture recognition algorithms to determine when a patient is attempting to stand up. The wheelchair alarm system responds with light and voice alarms that can encourage the patient to remain seated and/or to make use of the system's integrated nurse-call function. The wheelchair alarm system can be seamlessly integrated into existing hospital WiFi networks, sending messages to the nurse call system as well as providing the patient's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Heather-Marie Callanan Knight, Jae-Kyu Lee, Hongshen Ma, Lauren Kattany
  • Patent number: 8203459
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to weight monitoring systems for recovering, processing, monitoring, and managing various commodities or products stored in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: MJK Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Jones, Douglas A. Kunnel, Robert J. Megdal, Michael Kenney, Brent Huckey, David Velasquez
  • Publication number: 20120139719
    Abstract: An appliance warning system comprises a floor pad which has a switch movable between an open position when no weight pressure is detected and a closed position when activated by weight pressure. A transmitter transmits a signal depending upon whether the switch is in the open or closed position. A remotely located module has a receiver for the signal from the transmitter. A control circuit is operational between a ready state before the switch is activated to the closed position and a monitoring state after the switch is activated. A warning device is activated by the control circuit when in the monitoring state when the switch has been in the open position for a preselected period of time after having been in the closed position. A reset switch resets the control circuit from the monitoring state to the ready state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Rodolfo Garcia
  • Publication number: 20120126970
    Abstract: A lamp set capable of holding a fire extinguisher includes a light emission module, an audio module, an electric storage device to provide electric power for the light emission module and the audio module, a hollow pillar to hold the fire extinguisher, and a gravity sensor to detect whether the fire extinguisher is held in the hollow pillar. When the gravity sensor detects the fire extinguisher is separated from the hollow pillar, the audio module is activated to generate sound effect for alarming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Yu-Ching HSU
  • Patent number: 8154416
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an alarm assembly for a wheel chair is disclosed. A pair of mounting brackets is combined to the frame underneath the seat of the wheel chair. A removable and extendable switch-bar selectively combines to the mounting brackets. The switch-bar is adjustable in length to accommodate chairs of various widths and selectively positionable on the mounting brackets to change the distance between the seat and switch. The switch on the switch-bar senses the presence of a patient and in response to the absence of a patient communicates an alarm signal to the alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Professional Security Corporation
    Inventor: Richard T. Olson
  • Patent number: 8138882
    Abstract: An approach is provided that that uses an electronic multi-touch floor covering that has numerous sensors to identify shapes. The electronic multi-touch floor covering identifies a shape of an object that is in contact with the surface of the electronic multi-touch floor covering. An entity record is then retrieved from a data store, such as a database, with the retrieved entity record corresponding to the identified shape. Actions are then retrieved from a second data store with the actions corresponding to the retrieved entity record. The retrieved actions are then executed by the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lydia Mai Do, Travis M. Grigsby, Pamela Ann Nesbitt, Lisa Anne Seacat
  • Patent number: 8138922
    Abstract: Deactivating a data tag attached to packaging for user privacy or tamper-evident reasons. Each of a plurality of data tags stores identification information. At least one of the data tags is removable and capable of wireless signal transmission at a first range such that removal of the data tag substantially prevents communication of the identification information via the removed data tag and permits communication of the identification information via another data tag at a second range relatively smaller than the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Herb Flores Velazquez, Fung-Jou Chen, Eric Francis Wagner
  • Patent number: 8134473
    Abstract: A sheet switch (142) has a bottom layer (144) and a top layer (160). First and second conductors (148, 162) located on the bottom layer (144) form two separate conductive paths, with a voltage potential applied to the conductors (148, 162). The top layer (160) includes a ground conductor (172). Spacers (178) are positioned between the top and bottom layers (160, 144). When forces are externally applied, the spacers (178) collapse and the ground conductor (172) contacts the first and second conductors (148, 162), and establishes a conductive path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: CHG Hospital Beds Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Roussy
  • Patent number: 8121615
    Abstract: A mobile station (105, 200) operable in a wireless communication system (100), the mobile station including means (218, 202 of 105) for reporting to a location server (104) of the system a current location of the mobile station and a controller (201 of 105) for controlling the means for reporting to report to the location server a current location of a second mobile station (107) detected to be near to the mobile station. A wireless communication system (100) in which the mobile station is operable and a method (500) operable in the system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul E. Carpio, Mark Edwards, Christopher W. Wright, Valerie Wright, legal representative, Anneke Kate Brenner, legal representative, Georgina Beth Redican, legal representative, Klaus Pai, Matthias Nerling
  • Publication number: 20120038484
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hospital bed including a force sensor or scale apparatus configured to detect the weight of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, Jeffrey R. Welling, James R. Stolpmann, Andrew F. Skinner
  • Patent number: 8115648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat occupancy sensor (10) comprising at least two switch elements (12, 14) which can be activated by pressure. Said elements can be associated with the surface of a seat and are arranged at a certain distance from each other in such a manner that a first switch element (12) is associated with a first area of the seat and a second switch element (14) is associated with a second area of the seat. According to the invention, the first and second switch elements (12, 14) are connected to each other in such a manner that a logical AND-linkage is produced. The first and second switch elements are, for example, serially connected in a particularly simple embodiment of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A., Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Holger Lorenz, Karsten Henze
  • Patent number: 8095270
    Abstract: In a vehicle safety system with a vehicle steering wheel, which has a steering wheel rim, and with at least one capacitive sensor which detects an alteration to an electric or electromagnetic field, the sensor is arranged in or on the steering wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Bossler, Christian Bollinger, Guido Hirzmann, Heinz-Joerg Lefringhausen, Volker Stegmann
  • Patent number: 8076595
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus transmits measurement values in a multi-module force-measuring device, in particular a multi-module weighing device, with at least two force-measuring modules. Each of the force-measuring modules includes a force-measuring cell and a signal-processing unit. The signal-processing unit transmits the measurement values generated by the force-measuring cell by way of a signal line to a signal-evaluating unit. Under the method, each measurement value is converted into a bit sequence by the respective signal-processing unit. The first force-measuring module's bit sequence is transmitted to the signal-evaluating unit, and the bit sequences of the signal-processing unit of the further force-measuring modules are transmitted by way of the signal-processing unit of the first force-measuring module to the signal-evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Markus Uster
  • Patent number: 8072335
    Abstract: An antenna assembly is provided suitable for use with a remote communications module such as, for example, a keyless entry module, a tire pressure monitoring module, etc. The antenna assembly generally includes a support, a folded metallic antenna element mounted on the support, an amplifier coupled to the folded antenna element, and a transmission line coupled to the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Laird Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ayman Duzdar, Haiyang Wang, Huzefa Abdulkader Bharmal, Joseph M. Combi
  • Patent number: RE44039
    Abstract: A door alarm system is provided which activates an alarm when a door (such as the door to the patient's room, a bathroom door within the patient room, etc.) is closed with something (such as a sheet, cord or the like) over the top of door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Door Switch
    Inventor: Francis E. Cook