Patents by Inventor Michael Wilcox

Michael Wilcox 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: 11317036
    Abstract: A mobile calibration room may be used for calibrating one or more sensors used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A system can include folding or collapsible walls to enable the system to be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the system can comprise a calibration room including one or more 2D or 3D targets used to calibrate one or more sensors (e.g., cameras) on a UAV. The system can include a turntable to rotate the UAV about a first axis during calibration. The system can also include a cradle to rotate the UAV around, or translate the UAV along, a second axis. The turntable can include a frame to rotate the UAV around a third axis during calibration. The mobile calibration room can be coupled to a vehicle to enable the mobile calibration room to be moved between locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Graber, Martin Koestinger, Barry James O'Brien, Gerald Schweighofer, Mario Sormann, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11212312
    Abstract: Techniques for polluting phishing campaign responses with content that includes fake sensitive information of a type that is being sought in phishing messages. Embodiments disclosed herein identify phishing messages that are designed to fraudulently obtain sensitive information. Rather than simply quarantining these phishing messages from users' accounts to prevent users from providing “real” sensitive information, embodiments disclosed herein analyze these phishing messages to determine what type(s) of information is being sought and then respond to these phishing messages with “fake” sensitive information of these type(s). For example, if a phishing message is seeking sensitive credit card and/or banking account information, some fake information of this type(s) may be generated and sent in response to the phishing message. In various implementations, a natural language processing (NLP) model may be used to analyze the phishing message and/or generate a response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11187316
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a lubrication system for a gearbox of an aircraft. A lubrication line is coupled to a plurality of jets and/or orifices to provide lubrication to one or more components of the gearbox. A check valve is placed within the lubrication line in a location upstream from the plurality of jets and/or orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11073829
    Abstract: A system for detecting transparent elements in a vehicle environment are described. In some examples, this may include accessing an image of a scene captured by an image capture device attached to a vehicle. A reflected image present in the image may be detected. The reflected image may include a portion of the vehicle. It may be determined that the scene includes a transparent element based at least in part on detecting the reflected image present in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10922984
    Abstract: Techniques for verifying a location and identification of a landing marker to aid an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload to a location may be provided. For example, upon receiving an indication that a UAV has arrived to a delivery location, a server computer may process one or more images of an area that are provided by the UAV and/or a user interacting with a user device. A landing marker may be identified in the image and a representation of the landing marker along with instructions to guide the UAV to deliver the payload to the landing marker may be transmitted to the UAV and implemented by the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10901077
    Abstract: Aerial vehicles may be outfitted with one or more ultrasonic anemometers, each having ultrasonic transducers embedded into external surfaces. The transducers may be aligned and configured to transmit acoustic signals to one another, and receive acoustic signals from one another, along one or more paths or axes. Elapsed times of signals transmitted and received by pairs of transducers may be used to determine air speeds along the paths or axes. Where two or more pairs of transducers are provided, a net vector may be derived based on air speeds determined along the paths or axes between the pairs of the transducers, and used to generate control signals for maintaining the aerial vehicle on a desired course, at a desired speed or altitude, or in a desired orientation. The transducers may be dedicated for use in an anemometer, or may serve multiple purposes, and may be reoriented or reconfigured as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Leroi LeGrand, III, Gershon Parent, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10858103
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can deliver a package to a delivery destination. Packages delivered by a UAV may be lowered towards the ground while the UAV continues to fly rather than the UAV landing on the ground and releasing the package. Packages may sway during lowering as a result of wind or movement of the UAV. By modulating a rate of descent of a package, a package sway may mitigated. The lowering mechanism includes wrapping a tether in various directions around the package such that the package rotates in a first and second direction as the package descends. Additionally, a rip-strip lowering mechanism that separates under tension to lower the package and a rappel mechanism that slides the package down a tether may be used. Accordingly, the tether can control a descent of the package assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Buchmueller, Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III, Lowell Timothy Neal, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10853942
    Abstract: Camera calibration may be performed in a mobile environment. One or more cameras can be mounted on a mobile vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or an automobile. Because of the mobility of the vehicle the one or more cameras may be subjected to inaccuracy in imagery caused by various factors, such as environmental factors (e.g., airflow, wind, etc.), impact by other objects (e.g., debris, vehicles, etc.), vehicle vibrations, and the like. To reduce the inaccuracy in imagery, the mobile vehicle can include a mobile camera calibration system configured to calibrate the one or more cameras while the mobile vehicle is traveling along a path. The mobile camera calibration system can cause the one or more cameras to capture an image of an imaging target while moving, and calibrate the one or more cameras based on a comparison between the image and imaging target data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10815005
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing marker transmits a reply signal in response to receiving radar signals emitted by a UAV. The landing marker can include a passive transponder that emits the reply signal, with the reply signal being a harmonic of the fundamental frequency of the radar signal emitted by the UAV. The landing marker can also include a transmitter to transmit the reply signal. Additionally, the landing marker can include sensors to monitor the environment about the landing marker and this environmental information can be transmitted to the UAV as part of the reply signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Wilcox, Joshua John Watson, Scott Raymond Harris
  • Publication number: 20200325059
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to a method for bending a glass substrate. The method includes actuating at least one heat shield to a first position at least partially covering an edge portion of a first major surface of the glass substrate. The method further includes heating the glass substrate. The method further includes actuating the at least one heat shield to a second position at least partially uncovering the edge portion of the glass substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Timothy Brennan, Philippe Dardart, Anurag Jain, Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias, Eric Lee Miller, Stephane Poissy, Larry Gene Smith, Chad Michael Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20200324884
    Abstract: An exemplary rotorcraft includes a propulsion system including a prime mover and a drive shaft coupled to the prime mover, the drive shaft including a coupling separating the drive shaft into an input shaft and an output shaft, the coupling operable between an engaged position rotationally coupling the input shaft and the output shaft and a disengaged position rotationally disengaging the output shaft from the input shaft, a main rotor coupled to the prime mover, a secondary rotor attached to the output shaft, and a motor coupled to the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Wilcox, Aaron Alexander Acee
  • Patent number: 10759533
    Abstract: Components of a device may transmit signals between one another using piezo electric transducers (PETs). In a basic system, a first PET may be coupled to and/or in contact with a first location on a member. A second PET may be coupled to and/or in contact with a second location on the member and separated from the first PET by a distance. The first PET may receive a signal (e.g., an electrical voltage) and convert the signal to a mechanical force/stress causing vibration of the member. The vibration may propagate through the member to other locations about the member. The second PET receive the vibration and may convert the vibration back to the signal, such as by converting mechanical force/stress to the electrical voltage (i.e., the signal). A similar process may be performed in reverse to enable the first and second PET to provide two-way communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Guillermo Parodi, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10728516
    Abstract: A propeller provided on an aerial vehicle may include a digital camera or other imaging device embedded into a surface of one of the blades of the propeller. The digital camera may capture images while the propeller is rotating at an operational speed. Images captured by the digital camera may be processed to recognize one or more objects therein, and to determine ranges to such objects by stereo triangulation techniques. Using such ranges, a depth map or other model of the surface features in an environment in which the aerial vehicle is operating may be defined and stored or used for any purpose. A propeller may include digital cameras or other imaging devices embedded into two or more blades, and may also use such images to determine ranges to objects by stereo triangulation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10706579
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the methods and systems disclosed herein determine a location of a tracked object with respect to a coordinate system of a sensor array by using analog signals from sensors having overlapping nonlinear responses. Hyperacuity and real time tracking are achieved by either digital or analog processing of the sensor signals. Multiple sensor arrays can be configured in a plane, on a hemisphere or other complex surface to act as a single sensor or to provide a wide field of view and zooming capabilities of the sensor array. Other embodiments use the processing methods to adjust to contrast reversals between an image and the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Lamina Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo A. G. Unglaub, Michael Wilcox, Paul Swanson, Chris Odell
  • Publication number: 20200172076
    Abstract: A cuboidal hydraulic block of a hydraulic power unit of a slip-controlled power vehicle braking system includes a power cylinder borehole, a receptacle for a pedal travel simulator in parallel to the power cylinder borehole, perpendicularly through two large sides of the hydraulic block, and perpendicularly to a master brake cylinder borehole. The master brake cylinder borehole extends, in parallel to an upper transverse side, from one longitudinal side of the hydraulic block to an opposite longitudinal side of the hydraulic block. In an intended installation and usage position, an electrical plug connection is situated beneath a lower transverse side of the hydraulic block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas Weh, Michael Wilcox, Shogo Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10615507
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing marker that absorbs incoming radar signals emitted by a UAV and/or disperses reflected radar signals. The absorption and/or dispersion of the radar signals creates a reduced radar return in comparison to the environment about the landing marker. The UAV can detect the area of reduced radar return and determine that it is a landing marker. Additionally, the UAV can determine a position of the landing marker relative to the UAV, based on the reduced radar return, to effect delivery of an item by the UAV. The landing marker can include materials, structures and/or features to absorb and/or disperse radar signals to cause the reduced radar return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Wilcox, Joshua John Watson, Scott Raymond Harris
  • Patent number: 10601868
    Abstract: Technologies described herein facilitate generating and deploying dynamic false user accounts. Embodiments disclosed herein obtain a false tenant model that is usable to dynamically populate a false user account with messages and/or data files. Rather than containing only a static set of documents, a “dynamic” false user account is continually populated with fresh documents. This results in dynamic false user accounts appearing practically indistinguishable from real user accounts that are continually populated with new real email messages and/or new real hosted files as they are used by account owners to perform legitimate business activities. The realistic nature of the dynamic false user accounts described herein significantly reduces the ability of malicious entities to identify a user account as being false in nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Michael Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20200063854
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a lubrication system for a gearbox of an aircraft. A lubrication line is coupled to a plurality of jets and/or orifices to provide lubrication to one or more components of the gearbox. A check valve is placed within the lubrication line in a location upstream from the plurality of jets and/or orifices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Matthew Michael Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10573024
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods of determining a distance between an object depicted in an image and an imaging device that captured that image. In particular, the disclosure discusses that an image may be separated into multiple derivative images, each of which is associated with a different wavelength of light. In some embodiments, an image may be separated into images associated with wavelengths of primary colors (e.g., red, green, and blue). Once separate images have been created, a sharpness value may be determined for each image. A distance between the object and the imaging device may then be calculated based on sharpness values associated with each of the separate images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20200053120
    Abstract: Techniques for polluting phishing campaign responses with content that includes fake sensitive information of a type that is being sought in phishing messages. Embodiments disclosed herein identify phishing messages that are designed to fraudulently obtain sensitive information. Rather than simply quarantining these phishing messages from users' accounts to prevent users from providing “real” sensitive information, embodiments disclosed herein analyze these phishing messages to determine what type(s) of information is being sought and then respond to these phishing messages with “fake” sensitive information of these type(s). For example, if a phishing message is seeking sensitive credit card and/or banking account information, some fake information of this type(s) may be generated and sent in response to the phishing message. In various implementations, a natural language processing (NLP) model may be used to analyze the phishing message and/or generate a response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Brian Michael WILCOX