Patents by Inventor Joseph A. Paradiso
Joseph A. Paradiso 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).
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Patent number: 9342632Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a computer-assisted, handheld machining tool allows even an inexperienced user to carve a complex 3D object, while maintaining artistic freedom to modify the sculpture from an initial CAD design. The tool prevents the user from unintentionally removing material from a volume defined by the CAD design. It does so by slowing or halting spindle rotation as the bit approaches or penetrates the protected volume. The user can override this protective feature. The tool may operate in at least three interaction modes: (i) a static mode in which a static CAD model is used, where the computer assists by preventing the user from damaging the static model; (ii) a dynamic mode where the computer dynamically modifies the CAD model during the sculpting process; and (iii) an autonomous mode where the computer can operate independently of the user, for tasks such as semi-automatic texture rendering.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Amit Zoran, Joseph Paradiso, Roy Shilkrot
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Publication number: 20160052261Abstract: A handheld inkjet printer includes an inkjet print head and a tip. One or more sensors measure the position of points on a curved surface that are physically touched by the tip while the tip is moved relative to the surface. Based on these measurements, a computer generates or modifies a computer model that specifies at least (i) position of the curved surface, and (ii) a target region of the curved surface on which a pattern is to be printed. In addition, the one or more sensors measure position and orientation of nozzles in the print head, while the handset is moved relative to the surface. The computers also calculate, based on the computer model and these additional measurements, which of the nozzles to fire at a different times, such that the pattern is printed on the target region as the handset is moved relative to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Pragun Goyal, Amit Zoran, Joseph Paradiso
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Publication number: 20150257238Abstract: In exemplary embodiments of this invention, one or more I/O devices accept input from a human user. The input is indicative of a value for each control variable in a set of separate control variables. A computer analyzes the input and outputs control signals to specify a set of separate setpoints. Dimmers adjust the intensity or color of a set of luminaires according to the setpoints. The number of separate control variables is much less than the number of separate setpoints. Having a human control a small number of control variables, in order to control a much larger number of separate luminaire setpoints of luminaires, has at least two advantages: control is faster and control is more intuitive. In illustrative implementations, the luminaire setpoints that are being controlled are not functions of each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2015Publication date: September 10, 2015Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Joseph Paradiso, Matthew Aldrich, Nan Zhao
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Publication number: 20150213187Abstract: A system for introspection and annotation of electronic design data includes a tracked probe that interacts with an electronic circuit, a tracking system, schematics, design files, or models for the circuit, electronic design system software, and a user interface. The probe has a sensor that tracks the position of the probe within the circuit. The tracking system receives data from the sensor and translates it into coordinates reflecting the location of the probe within the circuit. The software uses the probe coordinates to locate the position of the probe on the circuit schematic, identify the circuit component at the probe location, and display information about the identified component. The displayed information preferably includes an annotated version of the circuit schematic. The system may include a measurement or instrumentation device, the probe may include at least one parameter measurement device, and the display may include information derived from the parameter measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Pragun Goyal, Joseph A. Paradiso
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Patent number: 9077343Abstract: A sensing floor to locate people and devices is described. In an embodiment, the sensing floor (or sensing surface), is formed from a flexible substrate on which a number of distributed sensing elements and connections between sensing elements are formed in a conductive material. In an example, these elements and connections may be printed onto the flexible substrate. The sensing floor operates in one or more modes in order to detect people in proximity to the floor. In passive mode, the floor detects signals from the environment, such as electric hum, which are coupled into a sensing element when a person stands on the sensing element. In active mode, one sensing element transmits a signal which is detected in another sensing element when a person bridges those two elements. In hybrid mode, the floor switches between passive and active mode, for example, on detection of a person in passive mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Nan-Wei Gong, Stephen Edward Hodges, Nicolas Villar, Joseph A. Paradiso
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Patent number: 8902180Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for enabling use of external devices with pre-defined gestures. A method may include receiving operation information from a remote device, wherein the operation information indicates at least one operation that may be invoked by the remote device. The method may further include associating, by a processor, at least one pre-defined gesture with the at least one operation. The method may further include receiving user input. The method may further include determining that the user input corresponds to the at least one pre-defined gesture. The method may further include causing transmission of indication information to the remote device, wherein the indication information provides an indication to the remote device to perform the at least one operation associated with the pre-defined gesture. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventors: Mat Laibowitz, Vids Samanta, Joseph A. Paradiso
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Patent number: 8593073Abstract: In illustrative implementations of this invention, a lighting system comprises a plurality of LEDs, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, a processor, a sensor node and a human-computer interface. The sensor is adapted to be moved by a user and placed in the location that a user wants to illumine. The LED lights are adapted to emit pulse-width modulated (PWM) light, controlled by signals from the processor. The lighting system is adapted to optimize parameters (such as efficacy or color rendering index) selected by the user, subject to certain constraints (such as desired illuminance or color temperature). According to principles of this invention, if a sensor is moved, attenuation may be measured and the inverse square law may be used to determine how constraints in an optimization algorithm need to be updated.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Matthew Aldrich, Mark Feldmeier, Joseph Paradiso
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Publication number: 20130231771Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a computer-assisted, handheld machining tool allows even an inexperienced user to carve a complex 3D object, while maintaining artistic freedom to modify the sculpture from an initial CAD design. The tool prevents the user from unintentionally removing material from a volume defined by the CAD design. It does so by slowing or halting spindle rotation as the bit approaches or penetrates the protected volume. The user can override this protective feature. The tool may operate in at least three interaction modes: (i) a static mode in which a static CAD model is used, where the computer assists by preventing the user from damaging the static model; (ii) a dynamic mode where the computer dynamically modifies the CAD model during the sculpting process; and (iii) an autonomous mode where the computer can operate independently of the user, for tasks such as semi-automatic texture rendering.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Amit Zoran, Joseph Paradiso, Roy Shilkrot
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Publication number: 20130154951Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer product for: receiving a first user input indicative of a movement of a device; receiving a second user input indicative of a touch gesture entered on the device; determining that a combination of the first and second user inputs is associated with a function having at least first and second parameters; determining the first parameter based upon at least the first user input; determining the second parameter based upon at least the second user input; and causing the function to be performed according to the determined first and second parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATIONInventors: Mathew LAIBOWITZ, Vidyut Samanta, Joseph A. Paradiso
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Publication number: 20130154915Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for enabling use of external devices with pre-defined gestures. A method may include receiving operation information from a remote device, wherein the operation information indicates at least one operation that may be invoked by the remote device. The method may further include associating, by a processor, at least one pre-defined gesture with the at least one operation. The method may further include receiving user input. The method may further include determining that the user input corresponds to the at least one pre-defined gesture. The method may further include causing transmission of indication information to the remote device, wherein the indication information provides an indication to the remote device to perform the at least one operation associated with the pre-defined gesture. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATIONInventors: Mat Laibowitz, Vids Samanta, Joseph A. Paradiso
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Publication number: 20120309531Abstract: A sensing floor to locate people and devices is described. In an embodiment, the sensing floor (or sensing surface), is formed from a flexible substrate on which a number of distributed sensing elements and connections between sensing elements are formed in a conductive material. In an example, these elements and connections may be printed onto the flexible substrate. The sensing floor operates in one or more modes in order to detect people in proximity to the floor. In passive mode, the floor detects signals from the environment, such as electric hum, which are coupled into a sensing element when a person stands on the sensing element. In active mode, one sensing element transmits a signal which is detected in another sensing element when a person bridges those two elements. In hybrid mode, the floor switches between passive and active mode, for example, on detection of a person in passive mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Nan-Wei GONG, Stephen Edward HODGES, Nicolas VILLAR, Joseph A. PARADISO
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Patent number: 8229130Abstract: A conversation shielding system comprises sensors that detect the location of a confidential conversation and the presence and location of a potential eavesdropper, audio output devices that produce masking sounds to shield the conversation from the eavesdropper, and a controller that automatically controls the operation of the output devices in response to data from the sensors. An optional portable controller may manually engage the system. A method for shielding conversation comprises identifying a conversation to be shielded, detecting a potential eavesdropper, automatically determining masking sound types, locations and volume that will shield the conversation, directing emission of masking sounds from at least one audio output device in order to shield the conversation, including adjusting the masking sound type, location, and volume in response to movement of the conversation or the eavesdropper, and continuing to shield the conversation until it ends or the eavesdropper is no longer detected.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Joseph A. Paradiso, Yasuhiro Ono
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Publication number: 20120139708Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, finger and hand gestures are tracked using passive RFID tags. The RFID tags include sensors, and/or can accommodate sensor signals from adjacent sensors. An RFID reader is worn by the user. The tags may be housed in rings worn on a user's fingers, or may be located in other locations on a user's body or clothing. The RFID system may transmit in the UHF range. The sensors may include inertial sensors and proximity sensors. For example, the proximity sensors may be magnetic sensors, capacitive sensors, sensors that detect electrical contact, sensors that detect signal strength, sensors that detect detuning of resonant tags, and other sensors that measure distance or contact between two objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Joseph Paradiso, Rachel Bainbridge
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Publication number: 20120031984Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, control apparatus for a HVAC system provides personalized comfort control. It can adjust local conditions in different rooms within a building in order to maximize the perceived comfort of individual occupants. The control apparatus locates individuals within a building. For each individual, it senses temperature, humidity and other parameters at the individual's location, calculates a comfort metric indicative of the user's comfort, and can control the flow of chilled or heated air to the individual's location in order to adjust local conditions to maximize the individual's comfort.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Mark Feldmeier, Joseph Paradiso
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Patent number: 8017890Abstract: A touch responsive capacitive control for a smooth surfaced ceramic cooktop provides a continuously variable control voltage which indicates the last touched position on an elongated control surface. An alternating current potential is applied between a transmitter plate and a pair of receiver plates all of which are positioned below the surface of the cooktop. The relative area of overlap between the touching finger and the two receiver plates varies along the length of the control surface, and the resulting change in the relative currents flowing to the two receiver plates is sensed to provide a position indication used to control the cooktop.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Joseph A. Paradiso, Lance L. Bourque
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Publication number: 20110089842Abstract: In illustrative implementations of this invention, a lighting system comprises a plurality of LEDs, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, a processor, a sensor node and a human-computer interface. The sensor is adapted to be moved by a user and placed in the location that a user wants to illumine. The LED lights are adapted to emit pulse-width modulated (PWM) light, controlled by signals from the processor. The lighting system is adapted to optimize parameters (such as efficacy or color rendering index) selected by the user, subject to certain constraints (such as desired illuminance or color temperature). According to principles of this invention, if a sensor is moved, attenuation may be measured and the inverse square law may be used to determine how constraints in an optimization algorithm need to be updated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Matthew Aldrich, Mark Feldmeier, Joseph Paradiso
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Patent number: 7924160Abstract: A system for tracking the position of multiple objects in three dimensional space by transmitting radar interrogation signals having predetermined wave shapes to surface acoustic wave transducers attached to each object. Each transducer includes a unique electrically conductive pattern on one surface of a piezoelectric substrate for selectively responding to the predetermined wave shape of one of the interrogation signals for inducing a surface acoustic wave in the substrate and for thereafter transforming the surface acoustic wave into an electromagnetic response signal having detectable properties that uniquely identify said transducer. The location of each transducer is estimated by measuring the time-of-flight or angle-of-arrival of the radar signals at several measurement stations and producing a position estimate by triangulation.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jason M. LaPenta, Joseph A. Paradiso
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Patent number: 7916128Abstract: Surface impacts are located and characterized based on an acoustic signal produced by the impact despite the presence of signal dispersion. Acoustic signals from the surface may be compared to acoustic signals detected external to the surface in order to eliminate spurious impact sensing due to external sounds. Low-frequency acoustic signals may be sensed and identified as explicit hard “bangs” which are of limited utility for pointing and tracking applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Joseph A. Paradiso, Che King Leo, Nisha Checka
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Patent number: 7864051Abstract: A quasi-passive wake-up function for an electronic device that employs a continuous low power standby mode compares a received signal to a predetermined signal and wakes up the device when the received signal is the same as the predetermined signal. An electronic device having a quasi-passive wakeup function includes a receiver for receiving at least one stimulus signal, a comparator for comparing the received signal to a predetermined signal, and at least one logic gate for waking up the electronic device when the received stimulus signal is the predetermined signal. In one application, identification tags are used to distinguish a unique tagged item from among a plurality of items with a similar appearance. When an interrogation signal is not present, the tags sleep at a very low power level.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Joseph A. Paradiso, Hongshen Ma, Andrew Benjamin Lippman
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Publication number: 20100116563Abstract: Surface impacts are located and characterized based on an acoustic signal produced by the impact despite the presence of signal dispersion. Acoustic signals from the surface may be compared to acoustic signals detected external to the surface in order to eliminate spurious impact sensing due to external sounds. Low-frequency acoustic signals may be sensed and identified as explicit hard “bangs” which are of limited utility for pointing and tracking applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2010Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Joseph A. Paradiso, Che King Leo, Nisha Checka