Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120133262 | HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE INCLUDING GLASS INTERIOR WALLS - A household appliance having a housing defining an interior space. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing may include a plurality of internal walls, wherein at least one of the plurality of internal walls is made of a glass material. Further, the interior space may be under a refrigeration condition. | 05-31-2012 |
20130160481 | APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING LIQUIDS - A dispensing unit includes a liquid collecting apparatus having a drip tray and a drip tray cover. The drip tray cover has an upper surface which comprises a plurality of troughs for collecting liquids. The tray includes an intermediate wall about which the drip tray cover pivots thereby allowing easy removal of the drip tray cover. | 06-27-2013 |
20130160483 | CANTILEVERED SHELVING RACK - A refrigerator comprises a main body having an enclosable interior compartment, the compartment including at least one wall having and at least one channel recessed into the wall; at least one shelf mounted in the compartment; and a fixing rail mounted to the wall and within the channel so that the fixing rail and portions of the wall adjacent the channel are substantially flush. The fixing rail has a plurality of mounting locations for the shelf to allow adjustable mounting of the shelf relative to the wall. | 06-27-2013 |
20130162133 | WINE PRESENTER - A wine presenter is provided for presenting one or more bottles of wine. The wine presenter has a base portion configured to support the wine presenter, a foot portion operatively coupled to a bottom side of the base portion and configured to rest the wine presenter on a surface, and an elongated portion having a bottom end, a top end, a front side, and a back side. The elongated portion is operatively coupled to the base portion at the bottom end and extends in an orthogonal direction from the base portion and the elongated portion has one or more grooves configured to hold at least a portion of a wine bottle. The wine presenter is configured to hold one or more wine bottles on both the front side and the back side of the elongated portion of the wine presenter. | 06-27-2013 |
20140021149 | STEMWARE HOLDER - A stemware holder for a dishwashing rack has a central shaft. The stemware holder also has a holding portion that has a stemware receiving area defined by a first set of prongs and extends from the central shaft in a first direction. The first set of prongs is adapted to hold a portion of a piece of stemware in the receiving area. The stemware holder further has a securing portion that has a dishwasher rack receiving area defined by a second set of prongs and extends from the central shaft in a second direction that is at an angle from the first direction. The second set of prongs is adapted to receive a portion of the dishwasher rack and secure the stemware holder to the dishwashing rack. | 01-23-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20160041233 | LOW-NOISE FLUXGATE MAGNETOMETER WITH INCREASED OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE - In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include synchronic symmetrical integrator circuitry and a magnetic field measurement device comprising an excitation circuit including an excitation coil, the excitation coil being wound around an amorphous soft magnetic core having a certain temperature coefficient such that inductance of the excitation circuit will change with temperature variations of the amorphous soft magnetic core; a detection circuit including a detection coil, the detection coil being wound around the same amorphous soft magnetic core, such that inductance variation of the detection circuit with temperature of the core can be detected from the excitation coil; and a resonation control circuit coupled to the excitation circuit and to the detection circuit to adjust a resonant frequency of the detection circuit responsive to temperature variations of the core. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 02-11-2016 |
20160041234 | CALIBRATION OF SENSITIVITY AND AXIAL ORTHOGONALITY FOR MAGNETOMETERS - A reduced-cost apparatus for calibrating the sensitivity and orthogonality of a triaxial magnetometer, and a method for adjusting the distance between the two coils of a Helmholtz coil and other related parameters are described herein. A method can include positioning a calibrated magnetometer within a mounting fixture between two coils of a Helmholtz coil, the two coils arranged in mutually parallel planes and separated by the radius of the Helmholtz coil, the mounting fixture mounted such that a position of the mounting fixture is adjustable along an axis orthogonal to the mutually parallel planes; adjusting the position of the mounting fixture over at least some of the positions and measuring the magnetic field at each position to generate a set of magnetic field measurements associated with the positions; and adjusting the first distance based on the first set of magnetic field measurements. Additional apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 02-11-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090061131 | THERMALLY PROTECTIVE FLAME RETARDANT FABRIC - A thermally protective, flame retardant fabric includes a substrate treated with a combination of a flame retardant agent and an intumescent agent. The substrate includes non-thermoplastic fibers or a blend of non-thermoplastic fibers and thermoplastic fibers having a basis weight ranging from 2.0 to 15.0 ounces per square yard. The fabric has a contact thermal protective performance value of at least 4.5 and a contact thermal protective performance efficiency greater than 1.1. Applications of the fabric include protective garments, articles of furniture, vehicle components, building components, electrical components, decorative components, appliances, and containers. | 03-05-2009 |
20130089722 | Thermally Protective Flame Retardant Fabric - A thermally protective, flame retardant fabric includes a substrate treated with a combination of a flame retardant agent and an intumescent agent. The substrate includes non-thermoplastic fibers or a blend of non-thermoplastic fibers and thermoplastic fibers having a basis weight ranging from 2.0 to 15.0 ounces per square yard. The fabric has a contact thermal protective performance value of at least 4.5 and a contact thermal protective performance efficiency greater than 1.1. Applications of the fabric include protective garments, articles of furniture, vehicle components, building components, electrical components, decorative components, appliances, and containers. | 04-11-2013 |
20140342140 | THERMALLY PROTECTIVE FLAME RETARDANT FABRIC - The present invention provides a fabric consisting of a single layer of a non-woven substrate treated with a flame retardant finish. The non-woven substrate comprises cellulosic fibers and polyester fibers and has a basis weight ranging from 2.0 to 15.0 ounces per square yard. The fabric has a thickness ranging from 0.01 to 0.15 inches. | 11-20-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080223097 | HIERARCHICAL CYLINDER LOCK SYSTEMS - A hierarchical lock system includes a first cylinder lock having a cylindrical plug, rotatable, reciprocating tumbler pins, a slider disposed within the plug and a side bar that cooperates with the cylinder plug, the slider, and the tumbler pins to control rotation of the lock. A second cylindrical lock includes a cylindrical plug, reciprocating tumbler pins, a slider, and a side bar that cooperates with the cylindrical plug and the slider. A first key is configured to open both the first and second locks by elevating and rotating the tumbler pins, and moving the slider to an unlocked position with respect to the side bar. A second key is able to open only the second cylindrical locks by elevating but not rotating the tumbler pins and by moving the slider to an unlocked position with respect to the side bar. | 09-18-2008 |
20090044579 | CYLINDER LOCK ASSEMBLY WITH A TAILPIECE ROTATIONALLY COUPLED TO THE CYLINDER PLUG - The present application relates to lock assemblies that provide a secondary coupling point, utilizing an anti-rotation pin or extended tailpiece leg or other method, which rotationally couples the tailpiece to the cylinder plug, thereby preventing rotation of the tailpiece independently of the cylinder plug. Therefore, a tailpiece within a bolt cam or other actuator used to withdraw a bolt or unlock a lockset cannot be rotated after the primary means for connecting the tail piece to the cylinder plug has been forcibly removed, severed, or destroyed. | 02-19-2009 |
20090241620 | Cylinder Lock and Auxiliary Locking Mechanism - A tumbler pin lock includes an auxiliary locking mechanism including an auxiliary locking pin to provide enhance locking in addition to the locking provided by the tumbler pins so that the lock remains locked even if the tumblers are picked or bumped into their unlocked positions. | 10-01-2009 |
20140190223 | KEY WITH MOVABLE ELEMENT DISPOSED WITHIN KEY BLADE - A key with one or more movable elements that slide within the blade of a substantially flat key for operating a lock includes a blade configured to be inserted into a keyway of a lock and including contour features formed on an outer surface of the blade that mate with corresponding contour features of the keyway. The key includes at least one movable element disposed within a recess formed in the blade and including a contour surface exposed to the exterior of the key blade. The contour surface may include external contour features that correspond in shape to at least a portion of the contour features of the keyway. The movable element may be movable within the recess, when it engages a blocking member within the keyway, and after such movement, the element will engage a locking element within the lock. | 07-10-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140203817 | Sensory Assembly System and Method - An improved sensory assembly system and method is disclosed herein. Specifically, the system for monitoring power lines comprises a sensory assembly, said sensory assembly connected to each phase of a power line, said sensory assembly comprising a sensory transceiver that broadcasts a signal, said signal comprising a digital representation of a voltage wave and a current wave on a single phase of a power line, and a common assembly comprising a common transceiver, said common transceiver receiving said signal, and a microprocessor, said microprocessor analyzing said signal, and a precision timing device, said precision timing device directing said common transceiver to send signals to said sensory assembly, said signals synchronizing sensory assembly readings on a phase of a power line. | 07-24-2014 |
20140207399 | System and Method for Monitoring a Power Line - A system and method for monitoring power lines is disclosed herein. Specifically, the system for monitoring power lines can comprise a sensory assembly connected to each phase of a power line. The sensory assembly can comprise a sensory transceiver that broadcasts a signal comprising a digital representation of a voltage wave and a current wave on a single phase of a power line. The system can also comprise a common assembly comprising a common transceiver receiving the signal from the sensory transceiver. Furthermore, the system can comprise a microprocessor, which analyzes the signal and a precision timing device that directs the common transceiver to send signals, which synchronize the sensory assembly readings on a phase of a power line, back to the sensory assembly. | 07-24-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090307352 | Requester-Side Autonomic Governor - A requester-side autonomic governor is provided for a requester configured to send service requests to a service provider. For example, the requester and service provider may be disposed in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) architected system. A feedback loop, preferably a monitor portion of a Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute (MAPE) loop, is configured to monitor responses to service requests. An autonomic governor mechanism limits the type and/or number of concurrent service requests according to a resource pool scheme, and dynamically adjusts a resource threshold of the resource pool scheme based on information provided by the feedback loop. In one embodiment, the resource threshold is reduced if more than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs, and is increased if more than a predetermined number of service requests are being held awaiting available pool resources and less than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307353 | Requester-Side Autonomic Governor Method - A requester-side autonomic governor is provided for a requester configured to send service requests to a service provider. For example, the requester and service provider may be disposed in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) architected system. A feedback loop, preferably a monitor portion of a Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute (MAPE) loop, is configured to monitor responses to service requests. An autonomic governor mechanism limits the type and/or number of concurrent service requests according to a resource pool scheme, and dynamically adjusts a resource threshold of the resource pool scheme based on information provided by the feedback loop. In one embodiment, the resource threshold is reduced if more than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs, and is increased if more than a predetermined number of service requests are being held awaiting available pool resources and less than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs. | 12-10-2009 |
20140068546 | Automated Deployment of a Configured System into a Computing Environment - Automatically deploying a configured system into a computing environment (such as a cloud computing environment) for execution therein comprises obtaining a configured architecture model describing the configured system, and iteratively evaluating the model to deploy pre-built components for the system and to create and enable a development environment in the computing environment for development of custom-built components needed for the system according to the model. The automated deployment processing further comprises automatically configuring the system; determining a proper installation sequence; allocating resources in the target environment; and installing the required tools and other software that will be needed for execution once the components of the system are deployed. Component metadata is used during the deployment, enabling automated consideration of various factors such as whether component dependencies, resource requirements, and compatibility issues are met. | 03-06-2014 |
20140068551 | Configuring Assembly of a System using Supplied Architectural Artifacts - The configuration of a system is programmatically determined. More particularly, these determinations are made using architecture artifacts that describe requirements of the system (which may be comprised of software, hardware, services, or some combination thereof), where these requirements are iteratively compared to characteristics of available components. A percentage of match is preferably computed, thus allowing for complete matches as well as partial matches. A weighting factor may be applied to attributes, effectively prioritizing attributes in view of their relative importance in the assembled system. When more than one component is a candidate for meeting a particular requirement, user input may be obtained to select one of the candidates. One or more attributes (such as cost information) of each candidate, including how well that candidate matched requirements, may be included for each candidate presented for user selection. The model may be updated and re-evaluated iteratively. | 03-06-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140121623 | Absorbent Article - An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. | 05-01-2014 |
20140121625 | Absorbent Article - An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. | 05-01-2014 |
20140154459 | Fluid-Entangled Laminate Webs Having Hollow Projections and a Process and Apparatus for Making the Same - The present invention is directed to a fluid-entangled laminate web and the process and apparatus for its formation as well as end uses for the fluid-entangled laminate web. The laminate web includes a support layer and a nonwoven projection web having a plurality of projections which are preferably hollow. As a result of the fluid-entangling process, entangling fluid is directed through the support layer and into the projection web which is situated on a forming surface. The force of the entangling fluid causes the two layers to be joined to one another and the fluid causes a portion of the fibers in the projection web to be forced into openings present in the forming surface thereby forming the hollow projections. The resultant laminate has a number of uses including, but not limited to, both wet and dry wiping materials, as well as incorporation into various portions of personal care absorbent articles and use in packaging especially food packaging where fluid control is an issue. | 06-05-2014 |
20150064416 | Folded Absorbent Article - A method of making a folded absorbent article includes the steps of: providing an absorbent structure; providing a liquid-impermeable back sheet having a body-facing surface and a substrate-facing surface; joining the absorbent structure in facing relation to the body-facing surface of the back sheet to define an absorbent article; applying adhesive to the substrate-facing surface of the back sheet to define a first adhesive zone and a second adhesive zone; treating portions of the substrate-facing surface of the back sheet to define a first treated zone and a second treated zone; folding the absorbent article to align the first adhesive zone in facing relation with the first treated zone; and folding the absorbent article to align the second adhesive zone in facing relation with the second treated zone. | 03-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100279044 | Aerogel / Polymer Composite Materials - The invention provides new composite materials containing aerogels blended with thermoplastic polymer materials at a weight ratio of aerogel to thermoplastic polymer of less than 20:100. The composite materials have improved thermal insulation ability. The composite materials also have better flexibility and less brittleness at low temperatures than the parent thermoplastic polymer materials. | 11-04-2010 |
20100280171 | Aerogel / Polymer Composite Materials - The invention provides new composite materials containing aerogels blended with thermoplastic polymer materials at a weight ratio of aerogel to thermoplastic polymer of less than 20:100. The composite materials have improved thermal insulation ability. The composite materials also have better flexibility and less brittleness at low temperatures than the parent thermoplastic polymer materials. | 11-04-2010 |
20110171066 | Chemochromic Detector for Sensing Gas Leakage and Process for Producing the Same - A chemochromic sensor for detecting a combustible gas, such as hydrogen, includes a chemochromic pigment mechanically mixed with a polymer and formed into a rigid or pliable material. In a preferred embodiment, the chemochromic detector includes aerogel material. The detector is robust and easily modifiable for a variety of applications and environmental conditions, such as atmospheres of inert gas, hydrogen gas, or mixtures of gases, or in environments that have variable temperature, including high temperatures such as above 100° C. and low temperatures such as below −196° C. | 07-14-2011 |
20110209894 | Electrically Conductive Composite Material - A composite material formed of electrically conductive metalized carbon fibers, a thin metal coating or a composite material formed of a conductive polymer and metal nanoparticles. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210749 | In-Situ Wire Damage Detection System - An in-situ system for detecting damage in an electrically conductive wire. The system comprises a substrate at least partially covered by a layer of electrically conductive material forming a continuous on non-continuous electrically conductive layer connected to an electrical signal generator adapted to delivering electrical signals to the electrically conductive layer. Data is received and processed to identify damage to the substrate or electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive material may include metalized carbon fibers, a thin metal coating, a conductive polymer, carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles or a combination thereof. | 09-01-2011 |
20120111599 | Inkjet Printing of Conductive Carbon Nanotubes, Inherently Conductive Polymers, and Metal Particle Inks - Systems and methods for forming conductive materials. The conductive materials can be applied using a printer in single or multiple passes onto a substrate. The conductive materials are composed of electrical conductors such as carbon nanotubes (including functionalized carbon nanotubes and metal-coated carbon nanotubes), grapheme, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. pentacene and bisperipentacene), metal nanoparticles, an inherently conductive polymer (ICP), and combinations thereof. Once the conductive materials are applied, the materials are dried and sintered to form adherent conductive materials on the substrate. The adherent conductive materials can be used in applications such as damage detection, particle removal, and smart coating systems. | 05-10-2012 |
20120318925 | Multi-Dimensional Damage Detection - Methods and systems may provide for a structure having a plurality of interconnected panels, wherein each panel has a plurality of detection layers separated from one another by one or more non-detection layers. The plurality of detection layers may form a grid of conductive traces. Additionally, a monitor may be coupled to each grid of conductive traces, wherein the monitor is configured to detect damage to the plurality of interconnected panels in response to an electrical property change with respect to one or more of the conductive traces. In one example, the structure is part of an inflatable space platform such as a spacecraft or habitat. | 12-20-2012 |
20130004372 | Chemochromic Detector for Sensing Gas Leakage and Process for Producing the Same - A chemochromic sensor for detecting a combustible gas, such as hydrogen, includes a chemochromic pigment and a textile polymer. The textile material includes a chemochromic pigment operably responsive to a combustible gas. The combustible gas sensing textile material can be made by melt spinning, solution spinning, or other similar techniques. In a preferred embodiment carbon nanotubes are used with the textile material which will increase the material strength and alter the thermal and/or electrical properties. These textiles woven into fabrics can provide garments not only with hydrogen sensing capabilities but the carbon nanotubes will allow for a range of sensing capabilities to be embedded (i.e. gas, health, and electronic monitors) within the garments. | 01-03-2013 |
20130005045 | Chemochromic Detector for Sensing Gas Leakage and Process for Producing the Same - A chemochromic sensor for detecting a combustible gas, such as hydrogen, includes a chemochromic pigment mechanically mixed with a polymer and molded into a rigid or pliable shape. In a preferred embodiment, the chemochromic detector is within the material which is molded into a manufactured part, said part becoming the detector itself. The detector is robust and easily modifiable for a variety of applications and environmental conditions, such as atmospheres of inert gas, hydrogen gas, or mixtures of gases, or in environments that have variable temperature, including high temperatures such as above 100° C. and low temperatures such as below −196° C. | 01-03-2013 |
20130017617 | Incorporation of Chemochromic Pigment into a Variety of Articles as an Indicator for the Presence of Hypergolic Fuels - A chemochromic indicator is provided that includes a hypergolic fuel sensing chemochromic pigment that change from a first color to a second color in the presence of a hypergolic fuel. In a first embodiment, a chemochromic indicator is provided for detecting the presence of a hypergolic fuel such that the irreversible hypergolic fuel sensing chemochromic pigment includes potassium tetrachloroaurate (KAuCl | 01-17-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140239164 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING MATERIALS - The present disclosure provides sensing systems and methods that are useful for monitoring materials (e.g., cement) via light diffusion to identify characteristics thereof and changes therein. The systems can utilize a light source, a light sensor, and light transmitting members combined with the material to be monitored. In use, light from the light source can be allowed to scatter through the material via the light transmitting members for detection by the light sensor. The data regarding the light transfer can be transmitted utilizing a communication interface and can be analyzed using data processing equipment. The systems and methods may particularly be utilized in monitoring the reinforcing cement positioned between the casing and the formation in an oil well. | 08-28-2014 |
20140354443 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING RFID TAGS IN A BOREHOLE ENVIRONMENT - Sensor assemblies are deployed in a borehole for a well, such as an oil well or other hydrocarbon recovery well. The sensor assemblies may be coupled to a casing string (e.g., the exterior of the casing), and detect RFID tags or other properties of material (e.g., fluids) in an annulus surrounding the casing string. During cementing or other operations, RFID tags may be used to track fluids. RFID detection circuits may be used to scan at different frequencies, and corresponding results may be compared by various means and processes to determine the presence of RFID tags. | 12-04-2014 |
20140367092 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING DOWNHOLE CONDITIONS THROUGH FLUID SENSING - An apparatus and method may operate to mount one or more communication assemblies relative to the exterior of a casing being placed in a borehole. Two communication assemblies can be placed in longitudinally spaced relation to one another along the casing, wherein each communication assembly is configured to obtain excitation responses from electrodes of a fluid sensing component, where the excitation responses vary based on properties of fluids in one or more regions of the annulus surrounding the casing. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 12-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140111349 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING DOWNHOLE CONDITIONS WITH RFID MEMS SENSORS - A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag can include a die attached to an inductive-capacitive (LC) circuit including a capacitive element coupled to an inductive element. The LC circuit can have a resonant frequency that varies according to properties of fluid proximate the RFID tag. The RFID tag can further include a coating material disposed around the die to form an outer surface of the RFID tag. The coating material may have a thickness over a portion of the LC circuit, to permit a conductivity property of a fluid proximate the outer surface to affect the resonant frequency of the LC circuit such that the resonant frequency shifts to a second resonant frequency. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 04-24-2014 |
20140174732 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING DOWNHOLE CONDITIONS THROUGH RFID SENSING - An apparatus and method may operate to mount one or more communication assemblies relative to the exterior of a casing being placed in a borehole. Two communication assemblies can be placed in longitudinally spaced relation to one another along the casing, wherein each communication assembly is configured to obtain data from RFID tags in one or more azimuthally oriented regions of the annulus surrounding the casing, and to interrogate RFID tags in a first fluid in the borehole. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 06-26-2014 |
20140182845 | TIMELINE FROM SLUMBER TO COLLECTION OF RFID TAGS IN A WELL ENVIRONMENT - Sensor assemblies are deployed in a borehole for a well, such as an oil well or other hydrocarbon recovery well. The sensor assemblies are coupled to a casing string (e.g., the exterior of the casing), and may detect RFID tags or other properties of material (e.g., fluids) in an annulus surrounding the casing string. Limited battery power for the sensor assemblies and for assemblies for communicating sensed data may be a concern, and the sensor assemblies and communication assemblies may therefore operate in different modes of varying power consumption. In certain modes, sensing operations are curtailed (or expanded) depending on particular requirements. In one case, sensor operation is expanded during active portions of a cementing operation, and curtailed prior to and thereafter. Different triggering events may cause the sensor assembly to operate in different modes at different sensing frequencies. | 07-03-2014 |
20140182848 | ALGORITHM FOR ZONAL FAULT DETECTION IN A WELL ENVIRONMENT - A hydrocarbon well (e.g., oil well) may be monitored during to determine whether a fault exists during an operation such as injecting sealant (e.g., cement) into the borehole. RFID tags may be mixed in a wellbore fluid (e.g., drilling mud, cement, etc.), placed into a borehole, and then tracked within the borehole by communication assemblies with RFID sensors. Data may be obtained by interrogating RFID tags in one or more azimuthally oriented regions of an annulus surrounding a casing of the borehole. Fluid distribution in the annulus will be evaluated with respect to azimuthally offset regions of the annulus. | 07-03-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140167967 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MONITOR AND REDUCE VEHICLE OPERATOR IMPAIRMENT - The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated), alerting the vehicle operator when impairment is detected, and log data relating to vehicle operator impairment for further analysis. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using either or both of optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, one optical sensor may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Another optical sensor may monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. The accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168399 | Systems and Methodologies for Real-Time Driver Gaze Location Determination and Analysis Utilizing Computer Vision Technology - The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring one or more eyes of a vehicle operator during a driving session to generate a plurality of gaze location logs with gaze location values and timestamps. The gaze location value may be generated by determining a focal point of the vehicle operator's gaze, determining which of a plurality of areas of the vehicle is associated with the focal point, and assigning the gaze location value based on the area of the vehicle associated with the focal point. The gaze location logs may be analyzed to determine the duration of the vehicle operator's gaze at each area of the vehicle. Based on the duration of the vehicle operators gaze, recommendations to improve vehicle operator performance may be determined and communicated to the vehicle operator. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172467 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ADJUST INSURANCE RATE BASED ON REAL-TIME DATA ABOUT POTENTIAL VEHICLE OPERATOR IMPAIRMENT - The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy), log data relating to vehicle operator impairment for further analysis, and send the data to a server for analysis. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using either or both of optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, one optical sensor may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Another optical sensor may monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. The accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration. The data gathered by the various sensors may be scored to determine whether to change a property and casualty insurance rate charged to vehicle operator and/or vehicle owner and/or vehicle policy. | 06-19-2014 |
20140272810 | Real-Time Driver Observation and Scoring For Driver's Education - Driving skill data is gathered with one or more accelerometers during a driving session of a first student driver, including one or more of acceleration data, braking data, or steering data and wherein the driving skill data includes one or more of a timestamp or location stamp. A driving session report is generated with a computer processor. The driving session report includes a calculation of one or more of a student driver acceleration skill score based on the acceleration data, a student driver braking skill score based on the braking data, or a student driver steering skill score based on the steering data and storing the one or more scores on a computer-readable medium. The driving session report is displayed. Driving skill data may be gathered and driving session reports may be generated for subsequent student drivers. | 09-18-2014 |
20150339527 | GAZE TRACKING FOR A VEHICLE OPERATOR - A gaze tracking system captures images of a vehicle operator's face using an image sensor device positioned within a vehicle. The gaze tracking system may be detect facial features from each image and track the position of facial features over time. The gaze tracking system may use the detected facial features to track the vehicle operator's head pose and gaze direction. The images may be captured and analyzed in near-real time. By tracking movement of the driver's head and eyes over time, the gaze analysis system may predict or estimate head position and/or gaze direction when one or more facial features are not detectable. The gaze tracking system may generate a report regarding the vehicle operator's gaze distribution. The report may be saved to memory and may be graphically displayed at a screen. | 11-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140215560 | SECURITY DEVICE IMPLEMENTING NETWORK FLOW PREDICTION - A security device for processing network flows is described, including: one or more packet processors configured to receive incoming data packets associated with network flows where a packet processor is assigned as an owner of network flows and each packet processor processes data packets associated with flows for which it is the assigned owner; and a packet processing manager configured to assign ownership of network flows to the packet processors where the packet processing manager includes a global flow table containing global flow table entries mapping network flows to packet processor ownership assignments and a predict flow table containing predict flow entries mapping predicted network flows to packet processor ownership assignments. A predict flow entry includes a predict key and associated packet processor ownership assignment. The predict key includes multiple data fields identifying a predicted network flow where one or more of the data fields have a wildcard value. | 07-31-2014 |
20140215561 | FLOW OWNERSHIP ASSIGNMENT IN A DISTRIBUTED PROCESSOR SYSTEM - A security device for processing network flows includes one or more packet processors configured to receive incoming data packets associated with one or more network flows where a packet processor is assigned as an owner of one or more network flows and each packet processor processes data packets associated with flows for which it is the assigned owner; and a packet processing manager configured to assign ownership of network flows to the one or more packet processors where the packet processing manager includes a global flow table containing entries mapping network flows to packet processor ownership assignments. The packet processing manager informs a packet processor of an ownership assignment after one or more packets are received, and the one or more packet processors learns of ownership assignments of network flows from the packet processing manager. | 07-31-2014 |
20140215562 | EVENT AGGREGATION IN A DISTRIBUTED PROCESSOR SYSTEM - A security device for processing network flows includes packet processing cards with packet processors formed thereon where each packet processing card stores local counter values for one or more events and a packet processing manager including global event counters to maintain event statistics for events in the security device. In one embodiment, the packet processing manager stores a copy of the local counter value of an event for each packet processor reporting the event in the counter memory and the global event counter provides a global counter sum value for the event by summing the copies of local counter values in the local memory. In another embodiment, the global counter sum is compared to a threshold value to put the event in a conforming state or non-conforming state. The packet processing manager sends a multicast message to the interested packet processors indicating an event has transitioned to a non-conforming state. | 07-31-2014 |
20150229610 | EVENT AGGREGATION IN A DISTRIBUTED PROCESSOR SYSTEM - A method in a security device for processing network flows includes storing local counter values for one or more events and providing global event counters to maintain event statistics for events in the security device. In one embodiment, the method stores local counter value of an event for each packet processor reporting the event in a counter memory and the method sums the local counter values of an event stored in the counter memory to generate the global counter sum value for the event. In another embodiment, the method compares the global counter sum to a threshold value to put the event in a conforming state or non-conforming state. The method sends a multicast message to the interested packet processors indicating an event has transitioned to a non-conforming state. | 08-13-2015 |
20150341314 | FLOW OWNERSHIP ASSIGNMENT IN A DISTRIBUTED PROCESSOR SYSTEM - A security device for processing network flows includes one or more packet processors configured to receive incoming data packets associated with one or more network flows where a packet processor is assigned as an owner of one or more network flows and each packet processor processes data packets associated with flows for which it is the assigned owner; and a packet processing manager configured to assign ownership of network flows to the one or more packet processors where the packet processing manager includes a global flow table containing entries mapping network flows to packet processor ownership assignments. The packet processing manager informs a packet processor of an ownership assignment after one or more packets are received, and the one or more packet processors learns of ownership assignments of network flows from the packet processing manager. | 11-26-2015 |