Patents by Inventor Edmund Sparks

Edmund Sparks 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).

  • Coupling mechanism for light vehicles
    Patent number: 10770833
    Abstract: A coupling mechanism for coupling a light vehicle to a surface, the coupling mechanism comprising: a magnetic coupling device arranged such that it may be switched between a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the device generates an external magnetic field less than a first strength, and in the second mode the device generates an external magnetic field of at least a second strength, the second strength being greater than the first strength; and a surface detection unit, coupled to the magnetic coupling device, and arranged to determine when the light vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a surface, wherein in response to the surface detection unit determining that the light vehicle is within the predetermined distance, switching the magnetic coupling device from the first mode to the second mode, to secure the light vehicle to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Roke Manor Research Limited
    Inventors: Michael Hodgson, Rebecca Robinson, Jack Wakley, Edmund Sparks
  • Coupling Mechanism for Light Vehicles
    Publication number: 20190229462
    Abstract: A coupling mechanism for coupling a light vehicle to a surface, the coupling mechanism comprising: a magnetic coupling device arranged such that it may be switched between a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the device generates an external magnetic field less than a first strength, and in the second mode the device generates an external magnetic field of at least a second strength, the second strength being greater than the first strength; and a surface detection unit, coupled to the magnetic coupling device, and arranged to determine when the light vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a surface, wherein in response to the surface detection unit determining that the light vehicle is within the predetermined distance, switching the magnetic coupling device from the first mode to the second mode, to secure the light vehicle to the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Hodgson, Rebecca Robinson, Jack Wakley, Edmund Sparks
  • Self calibration of an array of imaging sensors
    Publication number: 20030152248
    Abstract: A method of calibrating one or more image sensors in terms of position and/or attitude comprising capturing the image of a moving object such as an aircraft at one or more locations determining the 2-d position on the image (sensor). The 3-d position of the aircraft may be known or unknown. The moving object may be captured at a number of locations to improve accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Edmunds Spark, Christopher John Gillham, Christopher Harris