Patents by Inventor Lee Proctor

Lee Proctor 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).

  • Publication number: 20230111196
    Abstract: A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes two or more arrays of transducer elements. Each array is operated at a fixed phase shift and varies in frequency so as to beamform multiple sonar return beams of a first range of angles and a second range of angles. The arrays can be oriented to create arcs of sonar coverage extending forward from a watercraft, from each side of the watercraft, and downward of the watercraft. Accordingly, multiple 2D live sonar images can be formed. One or more of the multiple sonar return beams can be selected and used to form sonar images that anglers are used to, without requiring separate transducer elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, Jeremiah D. Clark, Dustyn P. Pendergraft
  • Patent number: 11585921
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Publication number: 20220229178
    Abstract: A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes one or more arrays of transducer elements. Each array is operated at a fixed phase shift and varies in frequency so as to beamform multiple sonar return beams of a first range of angles and a second range of angles. The arrays can be oriented to cover the gap in sonar coverage for other arrays to create a continuous arc of sonar coverage. Accordingly, a 2D live sonar image can be formed. Three arrays are mounted in a housing in an X plus Line configuration with one of the arrays extending below the center of the X.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, Jayme J. Caspall
  • Patent number: 11372102
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Publication number: 20220035026
    Abstract: A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes one or more arrays of transducer elements. Each array is operated at a fixed phase shift and varies in frequency so as to beamform multiple sonar return beams of a first range of angles and a second range of angles. The arrays can be oriented to cover the gap in sonar coverage for other arrays to create a continuous arc of sonar coverage. Accordingly, a 2D live sonar image can be formed. One or more of the multiple sonar return beams facing downwardly can be selected and used to form downward sonar images that anglers are used to, without requiring separate transducer elements. Fish arches formed using multiple sonar return beams can be positioned appropriately within a high resolution downward sonar image to form a desirable combined sonar image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Alan Lee Proctor
  • Publication number: 20220035027
    Abstract: A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes one or more arrays of transducer elements. Each array is operated at a fixed phase shift and varies in frequency so as to beamform multiple sonar return beams of a first range of angles and a second range of angles. The arrays can be oriented to cover the gap in sonar coverage for other arrays to create a continuous arc of sonar coverage. Accordingly, a 2D live sonar image can be formed. One or more of the multiple sonar return beams facing downwardly can be selected and used to form downward sonar images that anglers are used to, without requiring separate transducer elements. Fish arches formed using multiple sonar return beams can be positioned appropriately within a high resolution downward sonar image to form a desirable combined sonar image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Alan Lee Proctor
  • Publication number: 20220012469
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sharing information used to identify an object/person by a camera (e.g., a body-worn camera) is provided herein. During operation the apparatus will determine a set of characteristics that can be used to identify the object/person. The apparatus then analyzes the body-worn camera's FOV (or potential FOV) and removes characteristics from the set of characteristics to produce a minimal set of characteristics that can be used to identify the object/person in the body-worn cameras FOV. The minimal set of characteristics is then sent to the officer's body-worn camera for detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: WOJCIECH KUCHARSKI, PAWEL NIEMIEC, BOGDAN STEPIEN, LEE PROCTOR
  • Patent number: 10247822
    Abstract: Sonar systems and associated methods are provided herein for sonar image generation. The sonar system is configured to enable rotation of a transducer array that includes at least two transducer elements. The transducer array may be mounted to a trolling motor capable of being rotated. The transducer elements can be positioned to enable use of interferometry to obtain angle information regarding sonar returns. The angle and range of each sonar return can be used to form images, such as a 2D forward looking image of the underwater environment. A heading detector can be used to obtain a heading of the transducer elements to enable creation of a 2D radar-like image of the underwater environment. Additionally, the heading, angle, and range of the sonar returns can be used to form a 3D image of the underwater environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Publication number: 20190095069
    Abstract: An adaptable interface for retrieving available electronic digital assistant services is provided. A user interface including a graphical underlay on which user input gestures may be operated is displayed via a display element. A particular user input gesture selecting a sub-portion of the graphical underlay is detected. The selected sub-portion of the graphical underlay, or metadata associated therewith, is provided to an electronic digital assistant services query identification function. Identities of one or more available electronic digital assistant services that may be performed on objects or information included in the selected sub-portion of the graphical underlay or metadata associated therewith are received. And one or more actionable user interface elements are displayed on, over, or adjacent to the graphical underlay corresponding to the received identities of the one or more available electronic digital assistant services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: LEE PROCTOR, BENJAMIN ZASLOW, ERIC JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 10114119
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system, transducer assembly, and method for imaging an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transducer array defining first and second rows of transducer elements positioned at a predetermined distance. The first row of transducer elements may include at least first and second transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into first and second sonar return data. The second row of transducer elements may include at least third and fourth transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into third and fourth sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may be configured to process the first and second sonar return data and third and fourth sonar return data to generate respective first and second array sonar return data corresponding to a plurality of first and second receive beams and generate 3D sonar return data by correlating the angles associated with the receive beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Ronald Joe Horner, Alan Lee Proctor
  • Patent number: 10018719
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one transducer array in the housing that receives first, second, and third sonar returns with first, second, and third transducer elements and converts the first, second, and third returns into first, second, and third sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a first and second set of 2D sonar data based on the sonar return data, generate a third set of 2D sonar data based on a correlation of the first and second set of 2D sonar data, and generate a 3D mesh data based on the third set of 2D sonar data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Patent number: 9864058
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having at least one transducer array. The transducer array may include a transmit/receive element configured to transmit sonar pulses and a second transducer element. The transmit/receive element and the second transducer element may receive first and second sonar returns convert the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Patent number: 9784832
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. The first sidescan element may also transmit second sonar pulses, and at least one of the sidescan elements may receive the second sonar pulses to generate sidescan sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data and sidescan image data and generate a 3D image data based on the 3D mesh data and sidescan image data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner, Matthew David Hunt
  • Publication number: 20170285167
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Patent number: 9739884
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Publication number: 20170219703
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Patent number: 9593073
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming diazoalkanes. One aspect of the present invention provides a method for the production of a N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound from a starting material, comprising the use of a tribasic acid to acidify an amine. A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for the production of a diazoalkane, comprising reacting a N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound with a base and a phase transfer catalyst, wherein no organic solvent is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: BAKHU LIMITED
    Inventor: Lee Proctor
  • Publication number: 20160377716
    Abstract: Sonar systems and associated methods are provided herein for sonar image generation. The sonar system is configured to enable rotation of a transducer array that includes at least two transducer elements. The transducer array may be mounted to a trolling motor capable of being rotated. The transducer elements can be positioned to enable use of interferometry to obtain angle information regarding sonar returns. The angle and range of each sonar return can be used to form images, such as a 2D forward looking image of the underwater environment. A heading detector can be used to obtain a heading of the transducer elements to enable creation of a 2D radar-like image of the underwater environment. Additionally, the heading, angle, and range of the sonar returns can be used to form a 3D image of the underwater environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner
  • Publication number: 20160341827
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system, transducer assembly, and method for imaging an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transducer array defining first and second rows of transducer elements positioned at a predetermined distance. The first row of transducer elements may include at least first and second transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into first and second sonar return data. The second row of transducer elements may include at least third and fourth transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into third and fourth sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may be configured to process the first and second sonar return data and third and fourth sonar return data to generate respective first and second array sonar return data corresponding to a plurality of first and second receive beams and generate 3D sonar return data by correlating the angles associated with the receive beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald Joe Horner, Alan Lee Proctor
  • Publication number: 20160259051
    Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having at least one transducer array. The transducer array may include a transmit/receive element configured to transmit sonar pulses and a second transducer element. The transmit/receive element and the second transducer element may receive first and second sonar returns convert the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Alan Lee Proctor, David Austin Parks, Ronald Joe Horner