DR. JAMES GORDON CAIN, MD
Anesthesiologist Assistant at Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, PA

7876225, Jan 25, 2011

Feb 23, 2007

11/678296

Marlin H. Mickle - Pittsburgh PA, US
Alex K. Jones - Pittsburgh PA, US
James T. Cain - Pittsburgh PA, US
Peter J. Hawrylak - Woodstown NJ, US
Frank Marx - Pittsburgh PA, US
Raymond R. Hoare - Pittsburgh PA, US

University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Pittsburgh PA

G08B 13/14

3405724, 3405727, 3405728, 34053922, 34087001, 340 105, 235385, 235492, 343850, 343860, 343795

A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.

2009004, Feb 19, 2009

Sep 17, 2008

12/211909

Marlin H. Mickle - Pittsburgh PA, US
James T. Cain - Pittsburgh PA, US
Swapna Dontharaju - Pittsburgh PA, US
Raymond R. Hoare - Pittsburgh PA, US
Alex Jones - Pittsburgh PA, US

University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Pittsburgh PA

G06F 17/50, G06F 9/44

716 3, 717106

A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided.

7722920, May 25, 2010

May 9, 2006

11/430718

Marlin H. Mickle - Pittsburgh PA, US
James T. Cain - Pittsburgh PA, US
Michael R. Lovell - Wexford PA, US
Jungfeng Mei - New Stanton PA, US

University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Pittsburgh PA

B05D 5/12

427 961, 427 973, 427 975, 427 976, 427 983, 427 994

Described are methods of making an electronic device, such as an RFID tag, including fabricating an antenna by depositing an electrically conductive polymer onto a substrate. The electrically conductive polymer is electrically connected to an electronic component, such as an IC chip or a diode. The electronic component may be placed on the substrate before or after the electrically conductive polymer is deposited. Once deposited, the electrically conductive polymer is cured. The electrically conductive polymer may be deposited in a number of ways, such using a mask having a desired pattern and applying the electrically conductive polymer to the mask, by screen printing the electrically conductive polymer or by printing the electrically conductive polymer using ink jet printing techniques.

7375637, May 20, 2008

Apr 21, 2006

11/408774

Marlin H. Mickle - Pittsburgh PA, US
Peter J. Hawrylak - Pittsburgh PA, US
Raymond R. Hoare - Pittsburgh PA, US
Alex Jones - Pittsburgh PA, US
James T. Cain - Pittsburgh PA, US
Chuba Oyolu - Pittsburgh PA, US
Shenchih Tung - Pittsburgh PA, US

University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh PA

G08B 13/14, H04Q 5/22

3405721, 340 1033, 340 1034

A transponder apparatus having an identifier associated therewith includes a receiver for receiving an RF signal transmitted by an interrogator, a power source and a processing unit that is operatively coupled to the power source and is capable of being in an inactive, sleep state (low current draw) and an active state. The transponder apparatus also includes a buffer device that is structured to: (i) receive an information signal based on the RF signal from the receiver, (ii) determine whether the information signal includes the identifier, and (iii) cause the processing unit to move from the inactive state to the active state and transmit at least a portion of the information signal to the processing unit only if it is determined that the information signal includes the identifier. An associated method is also provided.

2007001, Jan 18, 2007

Jun 7, 2006

11/448516

Marlin Mickle - Pittsburgh PA, US
James Cain - Pittsburgh PA, US
Michael Lovell - Wexford PA, US
Junfeng Mei - New Stanton PA, US

University of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Pittsburgh PA

G06K 7/00

235435000

Described are methods of making an electronic device including an electronic component, such as an IC chip, connected to conducting traces provided on a substrate by depositing an electrically conductive polymer deposited onto the substrate. The electronic component may be placed on the substrate before or after the electrically conductive polymer is deposited. Once deposited, the electrically conductive polymer is cured. The electrically conductive polymer may be deposited in a number of ways, such as using a mask having a desired pattern and applying the electrically conductive polymer to the mask, by screen printing the electrically conductive polymer or by printing the electrically conductive polymer using ink jet printing techniques.

7525436, Apr 28, 2009

Nov 20, 2006

11/561595

Marlin H. Mickle - Pittsburgh PA, US
Peter J. Hawrylak - Woodstown NJ, US
Raymond R. Hoare - Pittsburgh PA, US
Alex Jones - Pittsburgh PA, US
James T. Cain - Pittsburgh PA, US
Chuba Oyolu - Pittsburgh PA, US
Shenchih Tung - Pittsburgh PA, US

University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Pittsburgh PA

G08B 13/14, H04Q 5/22

3405721, 340 1033, 340 1034

A power management method for a transponder having a plurality of circuits including at least a first circuit having a first active state requiring at least a first power level, and a second circuit having a second active state requiring at least a second power level greater than the first power level includes receiving a reader device signal in the first circuit, determining in the first circuit, based on information included in the reader signal, whether the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate, and causing the first circuit to provide a wake-up signal and the reader signal to the second circuit if it is determined that the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate. The wake-up signal causes the second circuit to move from an inactive state to the second active state.

2007017, Jul 26, 2007

Jan 4, 2007

11/619770

Marlin Mickle - Pittsburgh PA, US
Minhong Mi - Sewickley PA, US
David Sammel - Pittsburgh PA, US
James Cain - Pittsburgh PA, US
Leonid Mats - Pittsburgh PA, US

University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Pittsburgh PA

H04B 1/04, H02M 5/06

455127100, 363170000

A method of powering a wireless autonomous device having energy harvesting circuitry, on-board electronic circuitry, and RF transmitter circuitry using an RF transmitting profile that includes a plurality of RF pulses. That same profile may also be used to simultaneously communicate information to the wireless autonomous device in a number of ways, including different encoding schemes. A system including a plurality of wireless autonomous devices that employs the methods is also provided. Further, a method of designing a wireless autonomous device system and/or a wireless autonomous device to be used therein is provided that employs an equivalent circuit for the wireless autonomous device that is in the form of a lumped parameter RLC circuit with an energy source.