Patents by Inventor Brian W. Walker

Brian W. Walker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11263982
    Abstract: A display having a variably controlled backlight and/or driver is disclosed. The backlight includes a first light source that emits light within a first spectral power distribution and has a first radiant power output. A second light source emits light within a second spectral power distribution matched to an optical filter for producing a perceived chromaticity and luminosity matching the perceived display appearance without the optical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert N. Stuppi, Brian W. Walker, Alan M. Kuefler, Duane A. Grave
  • Publication number: 20210174751
    Abstract: A display having a variably controlled backlight and/or driver is disclosed. The backlight includes a first light source that emits light within a first spectral power distribution and has a first radiant power output. A second light source emits light within a second spectral power distribution matched to an optical filter for producing a perceived chromaticity and luminosity matching the perceived display appearance without the optical filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert N. Stuppi, Brian W. Walker, Alan M. Kuefler, Duane A. Grave
  • Patent number: 10996511
    Abstract: A display including a curved backlight and system for stray light control is disclosed. In embodiments, the curved backlight includes a curved substrate and an array of light sources disposed on the curved substrate, collimating optics, and a diffuser. The array of light sources includes a first group of light sources and a second group of light sources. The collimating optics are arranged to receive and collimate light only from the first group of light sources. The diffuser is arranged to receive and diffuse the collimated light from the collimating optics and light from the second group of light sources. The display further includes a liquid crystal layer arranged to receive light generated by the array of light sources and to display an image. The display further includes a controller configured to control the array of light sources such that at least some of the light sources emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian W. Walker, Albert N. Stuppi, Clint L. Gosch, Ricky J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10705380
    Abstract: A display including a curved backlight and system for stray light control is disclosed. In embodiments, the curved backlight includes a curved substrate and an array of light sources disposed on the curved substrate, collimating optics, and a diffuser. The array of light sources includes a first group of light sources and a second group of light sources. The collimating optics are arranged to receive and collimate light only from the first group of light sources. The diffuser is arranged to receive and diffuse the collimated light from the collimating optics and light from the second group of light sources. The display further includes a liquid crystal layer arranged to receive light generated by the array of light sources and to display an image. The display further includes a controller configured to control the array of light sources such that at least some of the light sources emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian W. Walker, Albert N. Stuppi, Clint L. Gosch, Ricky J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10596281
    Abstract: A touch screen or touch screen appliance includes built-in UV LEDs. The LEDs sterilize the touch screen at start-up, and periodically during operation. The LEDs may be disposed at the edges of the glass display such that the UV light is completely internally reflected within the glass display to prevent damage or strain to the user's eyes. Alternatively, the LEDs may be disposed behind the glass display, potentially also behind a UV fluorescing or phosphorescing layer to sterilize the glass from behind. Alternatively, the LEDs may be disposed in a layer in front of the glass display, or at angles around the perimeter of the glass display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Tchon, Brian W. Walker
  • Patent number: 10365482
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for controlling light. The system may include a display. The display may include a light source configured to emit light having a specified spectral output. The system may also include a light filter applied to a substrate separate from the display. The light filter is configured to block light within the specified spectral output. The light filter is further configured to allow light outside of the specified spectral output to pass through the light filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert N. Stuppi, Brian W. Walker, Tracy J. Barnidge, Joseph L. Tchon
  • Patent number: 9644816
    Abstract: A piecewise light control layer includes a plurality of light control portions including a first light control portion and a second light control portion. The first light control portion is configured to restrict light having a first angular profile. The second light control portion is configured to restrict light having a second angular profile, wherein the first angular profile is different from the second angular profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy J. Barnidge, Brian W. Walker, Joseph L. Tchon
  • Patent number: 8681290
    Abstract: The present invention is a display assembly in which a backlight module generates light beams via a light source. The light source provides the light beams to a light guide of the backlight module. The light guide then provides the light beams to a display panel of the display assembly for illuminating the display panel. One or more optical elements are implemented between the light source and an insertion edge of the light guide for promoting improved light insertion efficiency for the display assembly. Further, the optical element(s) may promote improvements in color quality, luminance and/or uniformity of graphics or graphical depictions displayed by the display assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Hufnagel, Brian W. Walker
  • Patent number: 8419203
    Abstract: An light emitting diode (LED) assembly may include, but is not limited to: a printed circuit board comprising at least one aperture; a first LED mounted on a front surface of the printed circuit board; a second LED mounted on a rear surface of the printed circuit board; and a reflective surface configured to reflect light emitted by the second LED through the at least one aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian W. Walker, Donald E Mosier
  • Patent number: 7970091
    Abstract: A method that uses time-domain processing on a spectrally efficient digital modulation scheme to reduce the bandwidth expansion in envelope elimination and restoration (EER) amplifiers is disclosed. The method identifies and localizes sections of the signal responsible for the out of band emissions, or spectral regrowth, using a filter. The detected sections are flagged and extended to allow for introduction of a lower frequency transition in place of the extended section, thus reducing spectral regrowth from the output of an EER amplifier. The method is particularly useful for improving the quality of digital AM radio transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Nautel Limited
    Inventor: Brian W. Walker
  • Patent number: 7581835
    Abstract: A light show device includes a light source configured to generate a light beam having a substantially constant diameter, a container having a substantially transparent portion, a plurality of mirrors, each mirror connectable or connected to the container rotatably about at least one axis, and a particulate source configured to create inside the container a substantial suspension of particulates, where the device is configured to allow a reflection of the light beam between at least a majority of the mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventor: Brian W. Walker
  • Publication number: 20090141817
    Abstract: A method that uses time-domain processing on a spectrally efficient digital modulation scheme to reduce the bandwidth expansion in envelope elimination and restoration (EER) amplifiers is disclosed. The method identifies and localizes sections of the signal responsible for the out of band emissions, or spectral regrowth, using a filter. The detected sections are flagged and extended to allow for introduction of a lower frequency transition in place of the extended section, thus reducing spectral regrowth from the output of an EER amplifier. The method is particularly useful for improving the quality of digital AM radio transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: Brian W. Walker
  • Patent number: 7475508
    Abstract: An inflatable electrical shocking weapon includes a hand portion, an inflatable extension configured to extend to an extension length upon inflation, and an electrical shocking device. The electrical shocking device includes a portable power source, a high-voltage generator connected to and configured to generate a high voltage from the portable power source, and at least two electrically conductive leads connected to the generator and configured to pass a current from the generator through a human at least when the human contacts the leads. The electrically conductive leads are connected to an end of the inflatable extension opposing the hand portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: Brian W. Walker
  • Patent number: 7252079
    Abstract: A safe air-pressure-launched toy rocket system includes an air-pressure-launched toy rocket, a high pressure reservoir, a manual air pump connected to the reservoir and configured to enable a user to pump air into the reservoir to a high pressure, a valve connected to the reservoir and configured, when opened, to release high pressure air stored in the high pressure reservoir to the toy rocket to launch the toy rocket, and two releases configured to be operable by different hands of the user. The releases are connected to the valve in a series-open configuration, where the valve is closed only when both of the releases are operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Brian W. Walker
  • Patent number: 6962415
    Abstract: An electronic dimming system for use in projection displays is provided. In a first embodiment, the dimming system comprises a first non-absorbing polarizer, a variable polarization rotator, a second non-absorbing polarizer and a heat absorber. The first non-absorbing polarizer receives light from a light source and passes the light of a selected polarization to the variable polarization rotator. The variable polarization rotator selectively rotates the polarization of the received light. The light passes from the variable polarization rotator to the second non-absorbing polarizer. The second non-absorbing polarizer passes only light of a second selected polarization. The light that passes the second non-absorbing polarizer is passed to the display, where it is used to illuminate the display. The system provides the ability to control the amount of light passed to the display by selectively rotating the polarization of the light with the variable polarization rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew B. Dubin, Brent D. Larson, Brian W. Walker