Cellular augmented radar/laser detection using local mobile network within cellular network

Abstract
A radar/laser emission detector is augmented with a cellular communications capability to provide the capability to share emission detection information amongst drivers to give other drivers even more advanced warning. A network of a plurality of cellular augmented radar/laser emission detector devices may be formed, each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections to others requesting access to such information, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices. A local area, mobile area wireless network (MAWN) is formed in a cellular network to share radar/laser detection information among drivers. Mobile Position Centers (MPCs) are provided in ANSI-41 networks and Gateway Mobile Location Centers (GMLCs) (GSM networks), to determine other members that are proximate to a device that is detecting radar emission.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention


This invention relates generally to wireless telecommunications. More particularly, it relates to the establishment of a local area network within a cellular network for use by radar/laser detection technology.


2. Background of the Related Art


Radar detectors are well known, as are laser detectors. Radar detectors detect radio frequency emissions in a given frequency range. Laser detectors detect an impinging laser beam directed toward the detector.


In a popular application, radar or laser detectors are used for automobiles, and are often quite small and many times are battery operated to eliminate the need for power cords. A modern radar or laser detector can run for 60 to 90 days on two AA 1.5v cell batteries, so their power needs are relatively small. Radar or laser detectors detect the presence of any of a variety of radar or laser emissions. They warn a driver of a vehicle of an impending radar trap by emitting an audible and/or visible warning indicating the detection of radar impinging upon the antenna of the radar device. For instance, different audio tones may be sounded representing each type of detection. Technology attempts to increase the amount of advance warning given to the driver.


Thus, any given radar detector warns the occupants and particularly the driver of any given vehicle, some giving more warning time than others. A driver of the vehicle must react immediately to avoid consequences related to being detected by the radar or laser. Ideally, this is sufficient time to avoid the consequences, but in many instances it may already be too late as at that point the speed of the vehicle may have already been measured. This is particularly true if the operator of the radar or laser emission is pointing and shooting once the driver's vehicle comes into range.


Vehicles to follow may suffer the same fate, especially since they at best will not receive any earlier warning of the detection of radar or laser than did the driver before. This is because a driver is warned about emissions that their device detects directly.


There is a need for providing earlier warning to users of radar and/or laser detectors.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a method of forming a local area network within a wide area network comprises determining a subset of members of the wide area network that are proximate to a given member. A local area network is established within the wide area network with only the determined proximate members.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 shows a hybrid radar/laser detector device including cellular communications capability, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.



FIG. 2 shows a plurality of hybrid radar/laser emission detector devices each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.



FIG. 3 shows an exemplary Cellular Augmented Radar Detector (CARD) local mobile net, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.



FIG. 4 shows figurative coverage of the Earth's surface with successively finer grained gridlines, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.



FIG. 5 shows an exemplary CARDloc table including identifier, location (latitude and longitude), and optimization indices, in a CARD local mobile net in accordance with the principles of the present invention.



FIG. 6 shows a matrix for Primary indices for a CARD nexus that maintains a collection of matrices in Random Access Memory (RAM), i.e., not in a relational database, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention isn't so much a remedy for a problem with the existing technology as it is a significant enhancement to the existing technology.


Being warned about radar or laser emissions detected by ones own device gives some advance warning. However, the present invention provides warnings about emissions detected by other detection devices on the road ahead of the driver. This significantly increases the amount of advance time of warning, giving the driver much more time to react.


In accordance with the principles of the present invention, automatic sharing of emission detection information is provided among drivers of separate vehicles by combining or augmenting an otherwise conventional radar or laser detector with a cellular communication front end. This makes it possible for one emission detector device to share its information with other devices, e.g., similarly capable cellular augmented radar devices.


Modern radar/laser detector devices have very low battery consumption requirements and provide some warning of nearby radar and/or laser emissions. Typically these devices emit an audio tone when emissions are detected. The warning tone is audible within the vehicle so that the driver (and any passengers) within the vehicle will receive warning.


Modern cellular communication devices have higher battery consumption requirements but also have much more powerful batteries. Cellular communication devices have the ability, through a wireless network, to share analog and digital information with other cellular communication devices.


A hybrid device in accordance with the present invention preferably has the ability to detect both radar and laser emissions, though detection of only radar emission or only laser emission is within the scope of the present invention.


Importantly, the device includes the ability to communicate via a cellular network. Such use of the cellular front end is relatively small, and wouldn't require any more battery capacity than is already provided for the cellular device. For instance, communication on the wireless network is preferably performed only when detection of emission occurs. Preferably, upon detection of emission, the cellular front end may be activated to allow the hybrid device to report to an established mobile network that detection has occurred.


Receiving devices may be provided with advance warning by polling their wireless network, e.g., by dialing a central database containing current detection information.


The size of the device need not be much bigger than an otherwise conventional radar detector devices, as a keypad and a large LCD display as provided by most mobile cellular devices is not required. The hybrid device need be larger only to include a cellular antenna, and if desired to include a larger battery, space for the cellular processor card, etc.



FIG. 1 shows a hybrid radar/laser detector device including cellular communications capability, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.


In particular, a cellular augmented radar/laser detection device 100 as shown in FIG. 1 provides the capability to share emission detection information amongst drivers to give those drivers even more advanced warning. The cellular augmented radar/laser detection device 100 includes a cellular processor front end 120 together with an associated cellular antenna 122. The cellular augmented radar/laser detection device 100 also includes otherwise conventional radar/laser emission detection components, including a laser emission detector 130, a radar emission detector 137, a battery 132, an emission signal processor 134, and front panel user interface 136 including LCD display and control buttons.


Of course, the cellular processor front end 120 and emission signal processor 134, and any other components within the cellular augmented radar/laser detection device 100, may be integrated with one another into a common physical component.



FIG. 2 shows a plurality of hybrid radar/laser emission detector devices each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.


In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, radar or laser emissions 201 detected by a cellular augmented radar detector (CARD) device warns the driver of that vehicle 202a via audible tone, but also importantly relays the detection information digitally 202b to a cellular network system 200. For instance, in the given example of FIG. 2, relayed detection information is transmitted to other CARD devices 203a, 203b via the cellular network 200. The CARD devices 203a, 203b then warns their respective drivers in those vehicles of the remote detection of radar or laser by another networked CARD device 100a. The warning may be via audible tone 204a, 204b. Preferably, the audible tone 204a, 204b is distinctive from an audible tone otherwise emitted as a result of direct detection of radar or laser by the respective CARD device 100b, 100c itself.


Ideally, only CARD devices 100b, 100c within proximity of the source of a CARD device 100a directly detecting emission of radar or laser emission are notified. This may be accomplished in a number of different ways. For instance, CARD device users with given phone number area codes may be presumed to be primarily within a given physical area serviced by those area codes, but this is not at all accurate and can result in erroneous warning. Warning a CARD device owner that another CARD device has detected radar or laser emissions is impractical and at the least annoying if the detection isn't in relatively close proximity.


CARD devices themselves are unable to determine which other CARD devices are in close proximity. The problem is aggravated because the use of cellular technology enables CARD devices to communicate with other CARD devices anywhere in the world.


In accordance with the present invention, Mobile Position Centers (MPCs) are provided in ANSI-41 networks and Gateway Mobile Location Centres (GMLCs) are provided in GSM networks, to enable the capability to find CARD devices within a configurable proximity limit of any “announcing” CARD device (i.e. any CARD device that is broadcasting an emission detection warning). Thus, once a CARD device detects emission, it reports via a cellular network to an application that then identifies other proximate CARD devices via query to an MPC (or GMLC), and transmits a detection warning message to only the CARD devices that are identified as currently being proximate to the detecting CARD device at the time of the detection and query.


MPCs and GMLCs are known and currently in operation to enable location services for locating a given mobile device. However, current MPCs or GMLCs do not provide a proximity determination service. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, location information available from MPCs and/or GMLCs for every querying CARD device provides the identity of all other CARD devices that are in close proximity to the querying (and emission detecting) CARD device. This enables the formation of a temporary local “network” based on a current proximity to one another. In this way, CARD devices are able to share emission detection information with only those CARD devices that will find the information useful and practical.


Thus, practical localized sharing of digital information is accomplished over a network of physically proximate devices, all of which being part of a global network. This local area network, otherwise called a mobile area wireless network (MAWN), makes interaction of Cellular Augmented Radar Detector (CARD) devices practical. Armed with proximity information, emission detection broadcasts are transmitted only to CARD devices in close proximity to the sourcing CARD device.



FIG. 3 shows an exemplary Cellular Augmented Radar Detector (CARD) local mobile net, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.


In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, a “CARD announcement coordination processor” or “CARD Nexus” gateway 300 ensures that CARD announcements are relayed only to those CARD devices for which the relevant announcement is pertinent.


The CARD Nexus gateway 300 may be a fully qualified Mobile Position Center (for ANSI-41 networks) or a fully qualified Gateway Mobile Location Centre (for GSM networks). The CARD Nexus gateway 300 also includes proximity evaluation logic. In an alternative, more practical architecture, only the proximity evaluation logic is implemented in the CARD Nexus gateway 300. A CARD Nexus interface is implemented with an MPC/GMLC 320 to get the location(s) for each of the operating CARD devices. The given embodiments show a system utilizing a CARD Nexus gateway 300 that works with a separate MPC/GMLC 320.


The disclosed embodiments prefer that CARD devices that are powered off will not interact with the CARD Nexus in any way. The disclosed embodiments also presume that any CARD device that is not enabled for cellular broadcast will not interact with the CARD Nexus in any way. CARD devices that are powered on but not enabled for cellular broadcast would function in otherwise the same manner as otherwise conventional radar detectors, i.e., they detect radar and laser emissions and emit an audible warning tone only to the driver and passengers within the vehicle in which the CARD device is mounted.


CARD devices that are powered on and enabled to broadcast via its cellular subsystem periodically connect (z in FIG. 3) to the cellular system to allow the CARD Nexus gateway 300 to determine that CARD device's current location. The CARD Nexus gateway 300 accesses the MPC/GMLC 320 to determine the CARD's location, and then saves the CARD's identity with its newly determined location (hereafter referred to as “CARDloc”) in a relational database for easy retrieval during proximity evaluation.


When a CARD device (e.g., device B in FIG. 3) that is powered ON and enabled to broadcast via its cellular subsystem detects either radar or laser emissions 301, it issues an emission detection announcement 302. The emission detection announcement 302 is routed through the hosting cellular carrier's core network 303, 304 to the CARD Nexus gateway 300.


The CARD Nexus gateway 300 determines the current location of the announcing CARD device by interfacing 305, 306 with the MPC/GMLC 320, and then accesses a relational database to identify other CARD devices in close proximity to the announcing device (C and D but not E).


The term “close proximity” may be predefined by the CARD Nexus system operator based on linear distance. Alternatively, close proximity may be defined on a device by device basis, or even defined within each query from the announcing CARD device to the CARD Nexus gateway 300.


Close proximity may alternatively be defined as a shortest distance based on length of roads to the announcing CARD device, but this approach requires route calculations for each CARD device and thus will be significantly slow unless the processor of the CARD Nexus is capable of making such route calculations in a timely manner.


The CARD Nexus gateway 300 then issues warnings 307, 308a, 308b to those CARD devices within the designated proximity so that relayed warnings 309a, 309b will alert the passengers of those vehicles.


For the purposes of this invention, close proximity evaluation methodology is designed for speed of performance during proximity evaluation processing. Thus, the CARD Nexus gateway 300 reduces a CARD device's location, represented in decimal degrees of latitude and longitude, into indices of latitude and indices of longitude within four (4) layers, and makes a simple calculation of a linear distance between an announcing CARD device and each potentially proximate CARD device:


1) Primary: tens of degrees (˜700 statute mile resolution)


2) Secondary: Degrees (˜70 statute mile resolution)


3) Tertiary: minutes (˜6000 foot resolution)


4) Quaternary: seconds (˜100 foot resolution)



FIG. 4 shows figurative coverage of the Earth's surface with successively finer grained gridlines, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.


In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, seconds of latitude and longitude yield a grid whose vertices are approximately 100 feet apart at the equator and somewhat closer together the farther away from the equator (North or South) the CARD device is located. Should the need arise to attain even finer granularity than seconds, a fifth (Quinary) and even sixth (Senary) layer can be added to represent 10ths of seconds (˜10 feet) and 100ths of seconds (˜12 inches).



FIG. 5 shows an exemplary CARDloc table including identifier, location (latitude and longitude), and optimization indices, in a CARD local mobile net in accordance with the principles of the present invention.


In particular, every time a CARD device notifies the CARD Nexus gateway 300 (CARDloc) or makes an emission detection announcement, the CARD Nexus gateway 300 saves that CARD's identifier, location (latitude and longitude), and optimization indices in a CARDloc table as exemplified in FIG. 5.


The Lat and Lon values are normalized to be decimal degrees in the range −90.0 through +90.0 for Latitude and −180.0 through +180.0 for Longitude. The indices are computed as follows:

PrimaryX=int(round((Lon/10.0)−0.5))
PrimaryY=int(round((Lat/10.0)−0.5))
SecondaryX=int(truncate(Lon−(PrimaryX*10.0)))
SecondaryY=int(truncate(Lat−(PrimaryY*10.0)))
TertiaryX=int(truncate((Lon−((PrimaryX*10.0)+SecondaryX))*60.0))
TertiaryY=int(truncate((Lat−((PrimaryY*10.0)+SecondaryY))*60.0))
QuaternaryX=int(truncate((Lon−((PrimaryX*10.0)+SecondaryX+(TertiaryX/60.0)))*3600.0))
QuaternaryY=int(truncate((Lat−((PrimaryY*10.0)+SecondaryY+(TertiaryY/60.0)))*3600.0))


These equations presume that the round ( ) function always rounds an “n.5” value up, so that 0.5 becomes 1.0, 2.5 becomes 3.0, −3.5 becomes −3.0, etc. Some adjustments might be necessary to accommodate specific hardware architectures, operating systems, and compilers.


The intent, though, is to compute an index based on the lower left corner of the square in which the CARD is located. The primary square (Q) is a 10 degree by 10 degree square. The secondary square (R) is a one degree by one degree square located within the primary. The tertiary square (S) is a one minute by one minute square located within the secondary. The quaternary square (T) is a one second by one second square located within the tertiary.


These computations produce values in the following ranges:


−18<=PrimaryX<=18 −9<=PrimaryY<=9


0<=SecondaryX<=9 0<=SecondaryY<=9


0<=TertiaryX<=60 0<=TertiaryY<=60


0<=QuaternaryX<=60 0<=QuaternaryY<=60



FIG. 6 shows a matrix for primary indices for a CARD Nexus gateway 300 that maintains a collection of matrices in temporary memory such as Random Access Memory (RAM), i.e., not in a relational database, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.


A collection of matrices in accordance with the principles of the present invention preferably always includes a matrix for the primary indices, as shown in FIG. 6.


The primary matrix is preferably accompanied by a PrimaryCount indicating how many CARDS are present.


The Primary Matrix is also preferably accompanied by an array or list of the primary matrix elements in which CARDs can be found (list will be empty if PrimaryCount is zero).


Each element in the 36×18 Primary matrix preferably contains: (1) A count of how many CARDs are present in that particular 10 deg×10 deg area; and (2) reference to a secondary matrix (reference will be NULL if count is zero).


Secondary (10×10 matrix), tertiary (60×60), and quaternary (60×60) matrices will be allocated, maintained, and eliminated as needed to manage memory use in the CARD Nexus gateway 300.


Each secondary matrix is preferably accompanied by a SecondaryCount indicating how many CARD devices are present in that 10 deg×10 deg area.


Each secondary matrix is also preferably accompanied by an array or list of the secondary matrix elements in which CARDs can be found. (Note that the list will be empty if its SecondaryCount is zero.)


Each element in a 10×10 secondary matrix preferably contains: (1) count of how many CARDs are present in that particular 1 deg×1 deg area; and (2) reference to a tertiary matrix. (Note that the reference will be NULL if the count is zero).


Each tertiary matrix is preferably accompanied by a TertiaryCount indicating how many CARDs are present in that 1 deg×1 deg area.


Each tertiary matrix is preferably accompanied by an array or list of the tertiary matrix elements in which CARDs can be found. (Note that the list will be empty if its TertiaryCount is zero.)


Each element in a 60×60 tertiary matrix preferably contains: (1) A count of how many CARDs are present in that particular 1 minute×1 minute area; and (2) a reference to a quaternary matrix. (Note that the reference will be NULL if the count is zero.)


Each quaternary matrix is preferably accompanied by a QuaternaryCount indicating how many CARDs are present in that 1 min×1 min area.


Each quaternary matrix is preferably accompanied by an array or list of the quaternary elements in which CARDs can be found. (Note that the list will be empty if QuaternaryCount is zero.)


Each element in a 60×60 quaternary matrix preferably contains: (1) A count of how many CARDs are present in that particular 1 second×1 second area; and (2) An array or list of CARD Identifiers that are present in the 1 sec×1 sec area. (Note that the list will be empty if count is zero.)


This four (4) tier data structure makes it possible for the CARD Nexus gateway 300 to rapidly identify all of the CARD devices in close proximity to an announcing CARD device so that warnings can be relayed in a timely manner. Maintenance of this four (4) tier structure is complex but will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in data structures.


Proximity can be a configured reference value defined in terms of hundreds of feet, thousands of feet, tens of miles, hundreds of miles, etc. Regardless of the defined distance for ‘proximate’, the CARD Nexus gateway 300 is able to rapidly identify which CARD devices meet the criteria. The broader the proximity value is defined, though, the longer it will generally take the CARD Nexus gateway 300 to send all the notifications due to latencies imposed by the carrier's core network.


The invention has particular applicability with people driving ground transportation. Moreover, the use of a mobile area wireless network using cellular technology can be expanded to include the sharing of other relevant vehicle information with proximate other vehicles communicating together on a cellular local area network. For instance, vehicles may advertise to other proximate vehicles that they are accelerating, braking, emergency braking, or beginning to change lanes. This technology may also lead to the ability to foster auto-piloting of a vehicle. Buses may advertise to their next bus stop how far away they are and what their estimated arrival time is. Airplanes may advertise to other planes what their speed is, what their altitude is, and what their heading is, to provide more automated collision avoidance.


While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims
  • 1. A method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network, comprising: populating a physical warning database with current location information for each of a plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion;querying said physical warning database to determine a subset of said plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion that are proximate to a given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion; andtransmitting an emergency braking warning to only said subset of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 2. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting detection of a radar emission by a given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion to only said plurality of determined proximate transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 3. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting detection of a laser emission by a given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion to only said plurality of determined proximate transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 4. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, wherein: said proximity is determined based on a linear distance between said given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion and all other said plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 5. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, wherein: said proximity is determined based on a driving distance between said given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion and all other said plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 6. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, wherein: said wide area network is a cellular phone network.
  • 7. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, wherein: said local area network relates to drivers within a given area.
  • 8. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, further comprising: querying a gateway to determine transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion that are proximate to a querying transmitter augmented warning detector in motion.
  • 9. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, further comprising: querying a mobile positioning center (MPC) in an ANSI-41 wide area network.
  • 10. The method of forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 1, further comprising: querying a gateway mobile location centre (GMLC) in a GSM wide area network.
  • 11. A transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network, comprising: a physical warning database to provide current location information for each of a plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion, and to provide a determination of a subset of said plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion that are proximate to a given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion; anda transmitter to transmit an emergency braking warning to only said subset of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 12. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said transmitter transmits detection of a radar emission by said given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion to only said plurality of determined proximate transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 13. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said transmitter transmits detection of a laser emission by said given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion to only said plurality of determined proximate transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 14. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said proximity is based on a linear distance between said given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion and all other said plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 15. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said proximity is based on a driving distance between said given transmitter augmented warning detector in motion and all other said plurality of transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion.
  • 16. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said wide area network is a cellular phone network.
  • 17. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said local area network relates to drivers within a given area.
  • 18. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said transmitter transmits a query to a gateway to determine transmitter augmented warning detectors in motion that are proximate to a querying transmitter augmented warning detector in motion.
  • 19. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, wherein: said current location is derived from querying a mobile positioning center (MPC) in an ANSI-41 wide area network.
  • 20. The transmitter augmented warning detector forming a local area network in motion within a wide area network according to claim 11, further comprising: said current location is derived from querying a gateway mobile location centre (GMLC) in a GSM wide area network.
Parent Case Info

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/405,579 to Pitt et al. entitled “Cellular Augmented Radar/Laser Detection Using Local Mobile Network Within Cellular Network”, filed on Apr. 18, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,899,450, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 60/777,565 to Pitt et al. entitled “Cellular Augmented Radar/Laser Detection Using Local Mobile Network Within Cellular Network”, filed on Mar. 1, 2006, the entirety of both of which is are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

US Referenced Citations (373)
Number Name Date Kind
4445118 Taylor Apr 1984 A
4928107 Kuroda May 1990 A
4972484 Theile Nov 1990 A
5126722 Kamis Jun 1992 A
5283570 DeLuca Feb 1994 A
5301354 Schwendeman Apr 1994 A
5311516 Kuznicki May 1994 A
5327529 Fults Jul 1994 A
5335246 Yokev Aug 1994 A
5351235 Lahtinen Sep 1994 A
5365451 Wang Nov 1994 A
5418537 Bird May 1995 A
5422813 Schuchman Jun 1995 A
5479408 Will Dec 1995 A
5485163 Singer Jan 1996 A
5504491 Chapman Apr 1996 A
5506886 Maine Apr 1996 A
5517199 DiMattei May 1996 A
5530655 Lokhoff Jun 1996 A
5530914 McPheters Jun 1996 A
5539395 Buss Jul 1996 A
5539829 Lokhoff Jul 1996 A
5546445 Dennison Aug 1996 A
5568153 Beliveau Oct 1996 A
5583774 Diesel Dec 1996 A
5594780 Wiedeman Jan 1997 A
5606618 Lokhoff Feb 1997 A
5611050 Theimer Mar 1997 A
5629693 Janky May 1997 A
5633630 Park May 1997 A
5636276 Brugger Jun 1997 A
5661652 Sprague Aug 1997 A
5661755 Van de Kerkhof Aug 1997 A
5689245 Noreen Nov 1997 A
5699053 Jonsson Dec 1997 A
5704029 Wright, Jr. Dec 1997 A
5721781 Deo Feb 1998 A
5731785 Lemelson Mar 1998 A
5765152 Erickson Jun 1998 A
5771353 Eggleston Jun 1998 A
5774670 Montulli Jun 1998 A
5809415 Rossmann Sep 1998 A
5812086 Bertiger Sep 1998 A
5812087 Krasner Sep 1998 A
5841396 Krasner Nov 1998 A
5857201 Wright, Jr. Jan 1999 A
5864667 Barkan Jan 1999 A
5874914 Krasner Feb 1999 A
5896369 Warsta Apr 1999 A
5898391 Jeffries Apr 1999 A
5922074 Richard Jul 1999 A
5930250 Klok Jul 1999 A
5945944 Krasner Aug 1999 A
5946629 Sawyer Aug 1999 A
5950137 Kim Sep 1999 A
5960362 Grob Sep 1999 A
5983099 Yao Nov 1999 A
5999124 Sheynblat Dec 1999 A
6032051 Hall Feb 2000 A
6052081 Krasner Apr 2000 A
6058338 Agashe May 2000 A
6061018 Sheynblat May 2000 A
6064336 Krasner May 2000 A
6067045 Castelloe May 2000 A
6081229 Soliman Jun 2000 A
6085320 Kaliski, Jr. Jul 2000 A
6118403 Lang Sep 2000 A
6121923 King Sep 2000 A
6124810 Segal Sep 2000 A
6131067 Girerd Oct 2000 A
6133874 Krasner Oct 2000 A
6134483 Vayanos Oct 2000 A
6147598 Murphy Nov 2000 A
6150980 Krasner Nov 2000 A
6154172 Piccionelli Nov 2000 A
6169901 Boucher Jan 2001 B1
6169902 Kawamoto Jan 2001 B1
6178506 Quick, Jr. Jan 2001 B1
6185427 Krasner Feb 2001 B1
6188354 Soliman Feb 2001 B1
6188909 Alanara Feb 2001 B1
6189098 Kaliski, Jr. Feb 2001 B1
6195555 Dent Feb 2001 B1
6195557 Havinis Feb 2001 B1
6204798 Fleming, III Mar 2001 B1
6205330 Winbladh Mar 2001 B1
6208290 Krasner Mar 2001 B1
6215441 Moeglein Apr 2001 B1
6239742 Krasner May 2001 B1
6247135 Feague Jun 2001 B1
6249873 Richard Jun 2001 B1
6253203 O'Flaherty Jun 2001 B1
6260147 Quick, Jr. Jul 2001 B1
6275692 Skog Aug 2001 B1
6275849 Ludwig Aug 2001 B1
6297768 Allen, Jr. Oct 2001 B1
6307504 Sheynblat Oct 2001 B1
6308269 Proidl Oct 2001 B2
6313786 Sheynblat Nov 2001 B1
6321257 Kotola Nov 2001 B1
6324524 Lent Nov 2001 B1
6327473 Soliman Dec 2001 B1
6333919 Gaffney Dec 2001 B2
6360093 Ross Mar 2002 B1
6360102 Havinis Mar 2002 B1
6363254 Jones Mar 2002 B1
6367019 Ansell Apr 2002 B1
6370389 Isomursu Apr 2002 B1
6377209 Krasner Apr 2002 B1
6397074 Pihl et al. May 2002 B1
6400314 Krasner Jun 2002 B1
6400958 Isomursu Jun 2002 B1
6411254 Moeglein Jun 2002 B1
6421002 Krasner Jul 2002 B2
6430504 Gilbert Aug 2002 B1
6433734 Krasner Aug 2002 B1
6442391 Johansson Aug 2002 B1
6449473 Raivisto Sep 2002 B1
6449476 Hutchison, IV Sep 2002 B1
6456852 Bar Sep 2002 B2
6463272 Wallace Oct 2002 B1
6477150 Maggenti Nov 2002 B1
6505049 Dorenbosch Jan 2003 B1
6510387 Fuchs Jan 2003 B2
6512922 Burg Jan 2003 B1
6512930 Sandegren Jan 2003 B2
6515623 Johnson Feb 2003 B2
6519466 Pande Feb 2003 B2
6522682 Kohli Feb 2003 B1
6525687 Roy Feb 2003 B2
6525688 Chou Feb 2003 B2
6529829 Turetzky Mar 2003 B2
6531982 White Mar 2003 B1
6538757 Sansone Mar 2003 B1
6539200 Schiff Mar 2003 B1
6539304 Chansarkar Mar 2003 B1
6542464 Takeda Apr 2003 B1
6542734 Abrol Apr 2003 B1
6542743 Soliman Apr 2003 B1
6549776 Joong Apr 2003 B1
6549844 Egberts Apr 2003 B1
6556832 Soliman Apr 2003 B1
6560461 Fomukong May 2003 B1
6560534 Abraham May 2003 B2
6567035 Elliott May 2003 B1
6570530 Gaal May 2003 B2
6574558 Kohli Jun 2003 B2
6580390 Hay Jun 2003 B1
6584552 Kuno Jun 2003 B1
6594500 Bender Jul 2003 B2
6597311 Sheynblat Jul 2003 B2
6603973 Foladare Aug 2003 B1
6606495 Korpi Aug 2003 B1
6606554 Edge Aug 2003 B2
6609004 Morse Aug 2003 B1
6611757 Brodie Aug 2003 B2
6618670 Chansarkar Sep 2003 B1
6621452 Knockeart Sep 2003 B2
6628233 Knockeart Sep 2003 B2
6633255 Krasner Oct 2003 B2
6640184 Rabe Oct 2003 B1
6650288 Pitt Nov 2003 B1
6661372 Girerd Dec 2003 B1
6665539 Sih Dec 2003 B2
6665541 Krasner Dec 2003 B1
6670905 Orr Dec 2003 B1
6671620 Garin Dec 2003 B1
6677894 Sheynblat Jan 2004 B2
6680694 Knockeart Jan 2004 B1
6680695 Turetzky Jan 2004 B2
6690940 Brown Feb 2004 B1
6691019 Seeley Feb 2004 B2
6694258 Johnson Feb 2004 B2
6694351 Shaffer Feb 2004 B1
6697629 Grilli Feb 2004 B1
6698195 Hellinger Mar 2004 B1
6701144 Kirbas Mar 2004 B2
6703971 Pande Mar 2004 B2
6703972 van Diggelen Mar 2004 B2
6704651 Van Diggelen Mar 2004 B2
6707421 Drury Mar 2004 B1
6714793 Carey Mar 2004 B1
6721871 Piispanen Apr 2004 B2
6724342 Bloebaum Apr 2004 B2
6725159 Krasner Apr 2004 B2
6731940 Nagendran May 2004 B1
6734821 Van Diggelen May 2004 B2
6738013 Orler May 2004 B2
6738800 Aquilon May 2004 B1
6741842 Goldberg May 2004 B2
6745038 Callaway, Jr. Jun 2004 B2
6747596 Orler Jun 2004 B2
6748195 Phillips Jun 2004 B1
6751464 Burg Jun 2004 B1
6756938 Zhao Jun 2004 B2
6757544 Rangarajan Jun 2004 B2
6772340 Peinado Aug 2004 B1
6775655 Peinado Aug 2004 B1
6775802 Gaal Aug 2004 B2
6778136 Gronomeyer Aug 2004 B2
6778885 Agashe Aug 2004 B2
6781963 Crockett Aug 2004 B2
6788249 Farmer Sep 2004 B1
6795699 McCraw Sep 2004 B1
6799050 Krasner Sep 2004 B1
6801124 Naitou Oct 2004 B2
6801159 Swope Oct 2004 B2
6804524 Vandermeijden Oct 2004 B1
6807534 Erickson Oct 2004 B1
6810323 Bullock Oct 2004 B1
6813499 McDonnell Nov 2004 B2
6813560 van Diggelen Nov 2004 B2
6816111 Krasner Nov 2004 B2
6816710 Krasner Nov 2004 B2
6816719 Heinonen Nov 2004 B1
6816734 Wong Nov 2004 B2
6820069 Kogan Nov 2004 B1
6829475 Lee Dec 2004 B1
6832373 O'Neill Dec 2004 B2
6833785 Brown Dec 2004 B2
6839020 Geier Jan 2005 B2
6839021 Sheynblat Jan 2005 B2
6842715 Gaal Jan 2005 B1
6853849 Tognazzini Feb 2005 B1
6853916 Fuchs Feb 2005 B2
6856282 Mauro Feb 2005 B2
6861980 Rowitch Mar 2005 B1
6865171 Nilsson Mar 2005 B1
6865395 Riley Mar 2005 B2
6867734 Voor Mar 2005 B2
6873854 Crockett Mar 2005 B2
6885940 Brodie Apr 2005 B2
6888497 King May 2005 B2
6888932 Snip May 2005 B2
6895238 Newell May 2005 B2
6895249 Gaal May 2005 B2
6895324 Straub May 2005 B2
6898633 Lyndersay May 2005 B1
6900758 Mann May 2005 B1
6903684 Simic Jun 2005 B1
6904029 Fors Jun 2005 B2
6907224 Younis Jun 2005 B2
6907238 Leung Jun 2005 B2
6912395 Benes Jun 2005 B2
6915208 Garin Jul 2005 B2
6917331 Gronemeyer Jul 2005 B2
6930634 Peng Aug 2005 B2
6937187 Van Diggelen Aug 2005 B2
6937872 Krasner Aug 2005 B2
6941144 Stein Sep 2005 B2
6944540 King Sep 2005 B2
6947772 Minear Sep 2005 B2
6950058 Davis Sep 2005 B1
6956467 Mercado, Jr. Oct 2005 B1
6957073 Bye Oct 2005 B2
6961562 Ross Nov 2005 B2
6965754 King Nov 2005 B2
6965767 Maggenti Nov 2005 B2
6970917 Kushwaha Nov 2005 B1
6973166 Tsumpes Dec 2005 B1
6973320 Brown Dec 2005 B2
6975266 Abraham Dec 2005 B2
6978453 Rao Dec 2005 B2
6980816 Rohles Dec 2005 B2
6985105 Pitt Jan 2006 B1
6996720 DeMello Feb 2006 B1
6999782 Shaughnessy Feb 2006 B2
7024321 Deninger Apr 2006 B1
7024393 Peinado Apr 2006 B1
7047411 DeMello May 2006 B1
7064656 Bekcher Jun 2006 B2
7065351 Carter Jun 2006 B2
7065507 Mohammed Jun 2006 B2
7079857 Maggenti Jul 2006 B2
7103018 Hansen Sep 2006 B1
7103574 Peinado Sep 2006 B1
7106717 Rousseau Sep 2006 B2
7113128 Pitt Sep 2006 B1
7123874 Brennan Oct 2006 B1
7136838 Peinado Nov 2006 B1
7151946 Maggenti Dec 2006 B2
7177623 Baldwin Feb 2007 B2
7209969 Lahti Apr 2007 B2
7218940 Niemenna May 2007 B2
7221959 Lindquist May 2007 B2
7269428 Wallenius Sep 2007 B1
7301494 Waters Nov 2007 B2
7440779 Kim Oct 2008 B2
7444342 Hall Oct 2008 B1
7629926 Pitt Dec 2009 B2
7792989 Toebes Sep 2010 B2
RE42927 Want Nov 2011 E
8200291 Steinmetz Jun 2012 B2
8373588 Kuhn Feb 2013 B2
20010011247 O'Flaherty Aug 2001 A1
20020002036 Uehara Jan 2002 A1
20020037735 Maggenti Mar 2002 A1
20020038182 Wong Mar 2002 A1
20020052214 Maggenti May 2002 A1
20020061760 Maggenti May 2002 A1
20020069529 Wieres Jun 2002 A1
20020085538 Leung Jul 2002 A1
20020102999 Maggenti Aug 2002 A1
20020112047 Kushwaha Aug 2002 A1
20020135504 Singer Sep 2002 A1
20020173317 Nykanen Nov 2002 A1
20020198632 Breed et al. Dec 2002 A1
20030009602 Jacobs Jan 2003 A1
20030037163 Kitada Feb 2003 A1
20030044654 Holt Mar 2003 A1
20030065788 Salomaki Apr 2003 A1
20030078064 Chan Apr 2003 A1
20030081557 Mettala May 2003 A1
20030101329 Lahti May 2003 A1
20030101341 Kettler May 2003 A1
20030103484 Oommen Jun 2003 A1
20030114157 Spitz Jun 2003 A1
20030118160 Holt Jun 2003 A1
20030119528 Pew Jun 2003 A1
20030153340 Crockett Aug 2003 A1
20030153341 Crockett Aug 2003 A1
20030153342 Crockett Aug 2003 A1
20030153343 Crockett Aug 2003 A1
20030161298 Bergman Aug 2003 A1
20030186709 Rhodes Oct 2003 A1
20030204640 Sahinaja Oct 2003 A1
20030223381 Schroderus Dec 2003 A1
20040002326 Maher Jan 2004 A1
20040044623 Wake Mar 2004 A1
20040064550 Sakata Apr 2004 A1
20040068724 Gardner Apr 2004 A1
20040070515 Burkley et al. Apr 2004 A1
20040077359 Bernas Apr 2004 A1
20040078694 Lester Apr 2004 A1
20040090121 Simonds May 2004 A1
20040203876 Drawert et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040204806 Chen Oct 2004 A1
20040205151 Sprigg Oct 2004 A1
20040209594 Naboulsi Oct 2004 A1
20040229632 Flynn Nov 2004 A1
20050003797 Baldwin Jan 2005 A1
20050020242 Holland Jan 2005 A1
20050028034 Gantman Feb 2005 A1
20050039178 Marolia Feb 2005 A1
20050041578 Huotari Feb 2005 A1
20050074107 Renner Apr 2005 A1
20050086467 Asokan Apr 2005 A1
20050112030 Gaus May 2005 A1
20050148346 Maloney et al. Jul 2005 A1
20050209995 Aksu Sep 2005 A1
20050238156 Turner Oct 2005 A1
20050259675 Tuohino Nov 2005 A1
20060010200 Mousseau Jan 2006 A1
20060053225 Poikleska Mar 2006 A1
20060058045 Nilsen Mar 2006 A1
20060058948 Blass Mar 2006 A1
20060212558 Sahinoja Sep 2006 A1
20060212562 Kushwaha Sep 2006 A1
20060234639 Kushwaha Oct 2006 A1
20060234698 Folk Oct 2006 A1
20070026854 Nath Feb 2007 A1
20070030539 Nath Feb 2007 A1
20070201623 Hines Aug 2007 A1
20080227467 Barnes Sep 2008 A1
20080268769 Brown Oct 2008 A1
20090029675 Steinmetz Jan 2009 A1
20090323636 Dillon Dec 2009 A1
20100167691 Howarter Jul 2010 A1
20100214149 Kuhn Aug 2010 A1
20110102232 Orr May 2011 A1
20110109468 Hirschfeld May 2011 A1
20120268306 Coburn Oct 2012 A1
20130009760 Washlow Jan 2013 A1
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry
International Search Report received in PCT/US2011/001990 dated Apr. 24, 2012.
International Search Report Received in PCT/US11/01971 dated Feb. 28, 2013.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20110149933 A1 Jun 2011 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60777565 Mar 2006 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 11405579 Apr 2006 US
Child 12929502 US