IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,730,990
Granted Patent B2
US 12,730,990 · App. 19/236,085 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Electromagnetic state sensing devices

Inventors: Michael W. Stowell (Sunnyvale, CA); Bruce Lanning (Littleton, CO)
Assignee: Lyten, Inc.
G06K7/10297C09D11/52H04W4/80
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,730,990
App. No.
19/236,085
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container includes a surface defining a volume of the container, a first resonance portion disposed on a first portion of the surface of the container using one or more first carbon-based inks, and a second resonance portion disposed on a second portion of the surface of the container using one or more second carbon-based inks different than the one or more first carbon-based inks. The first resonance portion can resonate within a first range of frequencies in response to one or more electromagnetic pings received from a user device, and the second resonance portion can resonate within a second range of frequencies in response to the one or more electromagnetic pings, the second range of frequencies being different than the first range of frequencies. In some instances, the user device may be a smartphone, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, or a near-field communication (NFC) device.

Claims (42)

1 . An online delivery service configured to monitor contents of a container associated with a user, the online delivery service comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing machine-readable code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the online delivery service to perform operations including:

receiving, over one or more communication networks, information pertaining to a return signal associated with a carbon-based resonance portion disposed on the container and responsive to one or more electromagnetic pings, the return signal indicating whether a level or volume of a product within the container satisfies a first threshold or whether a concentration of an analyte associated with the product satisfies a second threshold; and

initiating delivery of one or more additional products to the user based at least in part on the return signal indicating that the level or amount of the product satisfies the first threshold or that the concentration of the analyte satisfies the second threshold.

2 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein the product comprises perishable food and the concentration of the analyte is indicative of spoilage of the perishable food.

3 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein the product comprises perishable food and the return signal indicates a quantity of the perishable food, an expiration date of the perishable food, or a temperature of the perishable food.

4 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein the product comprises mediation and the return signal indicates a quantity of the medication, an expiration date of the medication, a refill date of the medication, a refill count of the medication, a lot number of the medication, a chemical composition of the medication, or a concentration of the medication.

5 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein the return signal identifies the product.

6 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein the return signal indicates a temperature of the product.

7 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the return signal is based at least in part on the carbon-based resonance portion disposed on the container.

8 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein a frequency or a range of frequencies of the one or more electromagnetic pings is based at least in part on the carbon-based resonance portion disposed on the container.

9 . The online delivery service of claim 1 , wherein execution of the machine-readable code causes the online delivery service to perform operations further including:

sending, to the user over the one or more communication networks, a notification to replenish the product based on the return signal indicating that the level or amount of the product satisfies the first threshold or that the concentration of the analyte satisfies the second threshold.

10 . The online delivery service of claim 9 , wherein the notification indicates one or more of a quantity, a quality, an expiration date, a refill date, a refill count, a lot number, a chemical composition, or a concentration of the product.

11 . The online delivery service of claim 10 , wherein execution of the machine-readable code causes the online delivery service to maintain a log storing one or more of the quantity, the quality, the expiration date, the refill date, the refill count, the lot number, the chemical composition, or the concentration of the product.

12 . The online delivery service of claim 9 , wherein the notification comprises an audible alert.

13 . The online delivery service of claim 12 , wherein the audible alert comprises natural language provided to the user by a voice assistant of a network hub associated with the user.

14 . The online delivery service of claim 9 , wherein the notification is provided to the user via email or text message.

15 . The online delivery service of claim 9 , wherein execution of the machine-readable code causes the online delivery service to perform operations further including:

receiving, from the user over the one or more communication networks, a confirmation of the notification; and

initiating the delivery of the one or more additional products to the user only in response to receiving the confirmation.

16 . The online delivery service of claim 15 , wherein the confirmation is an audible command provided by the user to an associated network hub.

17 . A method performed by one or more processors associated with an online delivery service for monitor contents of a container associated with a user, the method comprising:

receiving, over one or more communication networks, information pertaining to a return signal associated with a carbon-based resonance portion disposed on the container and responsive to one or more electromagnetic pings, the return signal indicating whether a level or volume of a product within the container satisfies a first threshold or whether a concentration of an analyte associated with the product satisfies a second threshold; and

initiating delivery of one or more additional products to the user based at least in part on the return signal indicating that the level or amount of the product satisfies the first threshold or that the concentration of the analyte satisfies the second threshold.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the product comprises perishable food and the concentration of the analyte is indicative of spoilage of the perishable food.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the product comprises perishable food and the return signal indicates a quantity of the perishable food, an expiration date of the perishable food, or a temperature of the perishable food.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the product comprises mediation and the return signal indicates a quantity of the medication, an expiration date of the medication, a refill date of the medication, a refill count of the medication, a lot number of the medication, a chemical composition of the medication, or a concentration of the medication.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the return signal identifies the product.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the return signal indicates a temperature of the product.

23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a frequency of the return signal is based at least in part on the carbon-based resonance portion disposed on the container.

24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a frequency or a range of frequencies of the one or more electromagnetic pings is based at least in part on the carbon-based resonance portion disposed on the container.

25 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

sending, to the user over the one or more communication networks, a notification to replenish the product based on the return signal indicating that the level or amount of the product satisfies the first threshold or that the concentration of the analyte satisfies the second threshold.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the notification comprises an audible alert.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the audible alert comprises natural language provided to the user by a voice assistant of a network hub associated with the user.

28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the notification is provided to the user via email or text message.

29 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:

receiving, from the user over the one or more communication networks, a confirmation of the notification; and

initiating the delivery of the one or more additional products to the user only in response to receiving the confirmation.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the confirmation is an audible command provided by the user to an associated network hub.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2025
From: STOWELL, MICHAEL W.; LANNING, BRUCE
To: LYTEN, INC.
Reel/Frame 071407/0711 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 18667316 · May 17, 2024
Continuation 18393422 · Dec 21, 2023
Continuation 18239900 · Aug 30, 2023
Continuation 18073055 · Dec 1, 2022
Continuation 17693649 · Mar 14, 2022
Continuation 17153146 · Jan 20, 2021
Continuation 16530173 · Aug 2, 2019
Provisional Application 62716741 · Aug 9, 2018
Related Publication 20250356146A1 · Nov 20, 2025
References Cited (74)
US 6219933B1 · Taniguchi et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6525105B1 · Udagawa et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6667092B1 · Brollier et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6885291B1 · Pollack et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7057562B2 · Forster et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7204135B2 · Robert · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7404319B2 · Poulbot et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7581439B2 · Rensel et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7847697B2 · Bannerjee et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8045947B2 · Mandal et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 9884715B2 · Hoofman et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9944131B2 · Wei et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10920035B2 · Rogojina et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11014413B2 · Raisanen et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11446966B2 · Stowell et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11472233B2 · Stowell et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11479062B2 · Stowell et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20030201044A1 · Schick · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20050110277A1 · Adamson et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060230827A1 · Klees et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070175555A1 · Myatt · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070295069A1 · Mancosu et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080074264A1 · Sharpe et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080156092A1 · Boiarski · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080210004A1 · Gerding et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090072951A1 · Alberth, Jr. et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090267761A1 · Georgescu et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090277262A1 · Rensel et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090308742A1 · Paranjape · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100073142A1 · Kim · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100126263A1 · Brusarosco et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100207754A1 · Shostak et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20130150516A1 · Lettow · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20150118492A1 · Sitharaman et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150317896A1 · Planton et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160300240A1 · Bright et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170022045A1 · Ray et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170070204A1 · McIntyre · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170178059A1 · Gibson et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180072553A1 · Lyons et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180143062A9 · Gurumohan et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180165485A1 · Martinez de Velasco Cortina et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180265666A1 · Anzelmo et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180346684A1 · Polyzos et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190190154A1 · Stowell · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200101797A1 · Ojala et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210005854A1 · Thompson et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210293521A1 · Stowell et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
CA 2459893C · 2014 [cited by examiner]
CN 207737077U · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 200216290U1 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
EP 1419476A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
EP 1798070A1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
EP 2118965B1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008285331A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016051438A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016165805A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020190000627A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020190010966A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
KR 101945996B1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 9929523A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013192335A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018101379A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019122507A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020027973A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020198451A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022086611A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Das, R., “Energy Harvesting for Vehicles”, IDTechEx, downloaded from https://www.idtechex.com/journal/print-artles.asp?articleids=3984; 4 pages, Dec. 7, 2011. [cited by applicant]
European Search Report and Opinion dated Oct. 10, 2022 for EP Appl. No. 20777796.2; 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report for EP Appl. No. 19846725.0, Apr. 4, 2022; 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 24, 2020, issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/024920; 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Dec. 30, 2019, issued in PCT Appl. No. PCT/US2019/044862; 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 31, 2022, issued in PCT Appl. No. PCT/US2022/019623; 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action (translation) issued in JP Appl. No. 2023-188368 on Dec. 26, 2023; 5 pages. [cited by applicant]