Patents by Inventor Douglas S. Burns

Douglas S. Burns 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).

  • Method and apparatus for monitoring surface condition of a bowling lane
    Patent number: 6794650
    Abstract: A topical recognition apparatus for monitoring surface condition of a bowling lane surface and a method thereof. The apparatus has a lamp that provides light on the bowling lane surface, and a sensor positioned proximate to the bowling lane surface, the sensor being adapted to sense light provided by at least one lamp after the light is scattered off the bowling lane surface, the scattered light being indicative of a surface condition of the bowling lane. The surface condition of the bowling lane monitored may be the quantity of oil on the bowling lane surface and/or the amount of wear on the bowling lane surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Ensco, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Burns, Alan J. Siegel
  • Method and system for evaluating properties of a beverage
    Publication number: 20040148107
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for aiding a consumer in choosing a beverage based upon personal preferences of the consumer, including obtaining spectral information of an inventory of beverages, obtaining spectral information of a sample of a beverage, and comparing the spectral information of the sample with that of the inventory to determine a beverage from the inventory that is similar to the sample. The spectral information for at least one of the inventory and the sample is obtained in a non-destructive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: ENSCO, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Piotrowski, Douglas S. Burns, Thomas C. Buist
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring surface condition of a bowling lane
    Publication number: 20020166971
    Abstract: A topical recognition apparatus for monitoring surface condition of a bowling lane surface and a method thereof. The apparatus has a lamp that provides light on the bowling lane surface, and a sensor positioned proximate to the bowling lane surface, the sensor being adapted to sense light provided by at least one lamp after the light is scattered off the bowling lane surface, the scattered light being indicative of a surface condition of the bowling lane. The surface condition of the bowling lane monitored may be the quantity of oil on the bowling lane surface and/or the amount of wear on the bowling lane surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: ENSCO, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Burns, Alan J. Siegel