Patents by Inventor Richard D. Roberts

Richard D. Roberts 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: 20140270799
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for decoding optical signals form a device. An exemplary method includes the steps of receiving, at a device, a plurality of optical frames, each optical frame having an encoded optical signal with an optical signal frequency; recording the plurality of optical frames to obtain a recorded optical image, the recorded optical image having a first frame per second (FPS) recording rate; processing the recorded optical image to obtain a digital signal corresponding to the encoded optical signal contained in at least one of the plurality of optical frames; and decoding the digital signal to obtain decoded information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Selvakumar Panneer
  • Publication number: 20140253295
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed for a mobile device to wirelessly dock to a device. In some examples, a mobile device may receive an indication to identify a device for wirelessly docking. The mobile device may gather identification for possible devices to wirelessly dock. A ranging technique may be implemented using a given frequency band to identify a device within a shortest distance from the mobile device from among the possible devices. The device having the shortest distance may be selected and a wireless dock may then be established. Other examples are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: RICHARD D. ROBERTS, MATHYS C. WALMA, CARLOS CORDEIRO
  • Patent number: 8818204
    Abstract: A light transmitter receives a low-rate data signal having a low data rate and a high-rate data signal having a high data rate that is greater than the low data rate. The transmitter includes a light source and a light modulator to modulate the light source based on logic levels of the high-rate data signal and logic levels of the low-rate data signal, to produce modulated light that concurrently conveys the logic levels of the low-rate data signal and the logic levels of the high-rate data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140219663
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to communicating data by varying a frequency of an amplitude modulated light source. Embodiments may comprise logic such as hardware and/or code to vary a frequency of an amplitude-modulated electromagnetic radiator such as a visible light source, an infrared light source, or an ultraviolet light source. For instance, a visible light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) may provide light for a room in a commercial or residential building. The LED may be amplitude modulated by imposing a duty cycle that turns the LED on and off. In some embodiments, the LED may be amplitude modulated to offer the ability to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the LED. Embodiments may receive a data signal and adjust the frequency of the light emitted from the LED to communicate the data signal via the light. In many embodiments, the data signal may be communicated via the light source at frequencies that are not perceivable via a human eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8718918
    Abstract: A signal detecting unit configured to be associated with a first vehicle includes one or more signal sensors and one or more processors and is configured to receive one or more signals from one or more signal sources is associated with a second vehicle. A set of time values is determined based on arrival times of the signal(s), and a set of distance expressions is generated. A set of distance equations is generated based on the set of time values and the set of distance expressions, and the set of distance equations is solved to determine one or more positions associated with the first vehicle or the one or more signal sources within a defined coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140093238
    Abstract: A light transmitter transmits multiple light packets, each formatted to include a predetermined phase synchronization field (PSF) and a same message comprising a series of bits. The PSF and each bit are each represented as light that is intensity modulated over a bit period at a corresponding frequency. The light packets are transmitted at different start-times to cause a receiver to sample each packet with a different phase of a fixed, asynchronous sample timeline. The PSF and message are demodulated from each of the sampled light packets. If the demodulated PSF matches the predetermined PSF, then the corresponding demodulated message is declared valid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140093126
    Abstract: A light receiver records images of light beams originating from a neighborhood of lights, and demodulates identifiers (IDs) from them at determined image positions. The receiver retrieves a set of neighbor IDs for each demodulated ID and a real-world position of the corresponding light. The receiver cross-references the demodulated IDs against the retrieved sets of neighbor IDs to reveal errors in the demodulated IDs. The receiver corrects the errors to produce correct IDs each indexing a real-world position that is correctly matched to one of the determined light beam positions. The receiver determines a position of the receiver relative to the light transmitter based on the correctly matched real-world and determined light beam positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140093234
    Abstract: A light transmitter transmits multiple light packets, each formatted to include a same message comprising a series of bits, each bit represented as light that is intensity modulated over a bit period at a frequency indicative of the bit. The light packets are transmitted at different start-times to establish different phases, one for each of the light packets, to permit a light receiver to sample each message at a different phase of a fixed sample timeline that is asynchronous to the bit period and the frequency. The light receiver samples the multiple light packets based on the sample timeline, to sample each received message at one of the different sample phases, then constructs a best series of bits based on the multiple demodulated messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Mathys C. Walma, Praveen Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20140093249
    Abstract: A mobile device includes an inertial navigation system (INS) to measure inertial quantities associated with movement of the device, and estimate a kinematic state associated with the movement based on the measured inertial quantities. The device includes a light receiver to record light beams originating from lights at respective image positions in a sequence of images. The device photogrammetrically determines its position relative to the originating lights based on predetermined real-world positions and corresponding image positions of the lights. The device corrects the estimated kinematic state based on the photogrammetrically determined position, to produce a corrected estimated kinematic state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Xue Yang
  • Publication number: 20140086587
    Abstract: A light array includes lights that transmit modulated light to indicate their unique light identifiers (IDs) and lights that transmit unmodulated light. A light receiver records images of the light array and recovers the light IDs from the modulated light. The light receiver uses the IDs to retrieve a light map representative of the light array. The receiver aligns the retrieved light map with the recorded images of the light array, and accesses real-world positions of all of the light in the light array, as deployed, based on the aligned light map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Jing Zhu, Mathys C. Walma
  • Publication number: 20140025284
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for determining relative positioning information are disclosed. A signal detecting unit configured to be associated with a first vehicle includes one or more signal sensors and one or more processors and is configured to receive one or more signals from one or more signal sources that may be associated with a second vehicle. A set of time values may be determined based on arrival times of the signal(s), and a set of distance expressions may be generated. A set of distance equations may be generated based on the set of time values and the set of distance expressions, and the set of distance equations may be solved to determine one or more positions associated with the first vehicle or the one or more signal sources within a defined coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140003823
    Abstract: Embodiments may provide a way of communicating via an electromagnetic radiator, or light source, that can be amplitude modulated such as light emitting diode (LED) lighting and receivers or detectors that can determine data from light received from the amplitude modulated electromagnetic radiator. Some embodiments may provide a waveform in the form of chips at a chipping clock frequency that switch a light source between on and off states to communicate via light sources that can be amplitude modulated such as LED lighting. Some embodiments may provide a method of transmitting the waveform via modulated LED lighting. Some embodiments are intended for indoor navigation via photogrammetry (i.e., image processing) using self-identifying LED light anchors. In many embodiments, the data signal may be communicated via the light source at amplitude modulating frequencies such that the resulting flicker is not perceivable to the human eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Praveen Gopalakrishnan, Mathys C. Walma
  • Publication number: 20140003817
    Abstract: A Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) data transmit-receive protocol that can be used with an arbitrary light array, including one or more lights, that transmits light to a light receiver having an image sensor, including a large number of light sensing pixels. The protocol supports two primary protocol or coding modes in which the light array may transmit: spatial coding and space-time coding. The protocol is constructed upon the use of efficient start-frame-delimiters (SFDs) and data-delimiters (DDs). The lights may be implemented to transmit the SFDs, the data delimiters, and data bits as modulated light. The light may be modulated in accordance with a modulation technique referred to as frequency shift on-off keying (FSOOK).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Jing Zhu, Mathys C. Walma
  • Publication number: 20140006907
    Abstract: Embodiments may communicate via an electromagnetic radiator, or light source, that can be amplitude modulated such as light emitting diode lighting via receivers that can determine data from light received from the radiator. Some embodiments decode data of a packet transmitted from modulated lighting by means of a device with a low sampling frequency such as a relatively inexpensive camera. Many embodiments determine locations of start frame delimiters in packets. Several embodiments implement repeat decoding on packets of the same data to reduce packet error rates. Some embodiments are intended for indoor navigation via photogrammetry using self-identifying light anchors. In many embodiments, the data signal may be communicated via the light source at frequencies causing flicker that is not perceivable to the human eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Praveen Gopalakrishnan, Mathys C. Walma, Lei T. Yang
  • Publication number: 20130287403
    Abstract: A light transmitter receives a low-rate data signal having a low data rate and a high-rate data signal having a high data rate that is greater than the low data rate. The transmitter includes a light source and a light modulator to modulate the light source based on logic levels of the high-rate data signal and logic levels of the low-rate data signal, to produce modulated light that concurrently conveys the logic levels of the low-rate data signal and the logic levels of the high-rate data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20130271747
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a location detection system. The location detection system may utilize one or more light sources in a fixed and known position capable of emitting modulated light. The location detection system may utilize one or more light receivers in a fixed and known position operative to detect light emitted by the light sources that has been reflected back off an object. The location detection system may utilize a processor circuit that may be communicatively coupled with the light receiver and the light sources. The processor circuit may be operative to receive signals indicative of the detected reflected emitted light from the light receiver. The processor circuit may also be operative to process the signals to determine a location of the object that reflected the emitted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8483040
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for determining if a super short mode is enabled. Transmitting a first packet that includes a synchronization pattern, and a payload if the super short mode is enabled, and transmitting a second packet that includes a preamble, a header, the synchronization pattern and the payload if the super short mode is not enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Webster, Steven D. Halford, Richard D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8411258
    Abstract: A positioning system and method for determining a coordinate of an object may comprise a positioning transmitter system and a positioning receiver system. The positioning transmitter system includes at least four light sources and a master anchor to modulate the light sources to emit modulated light signals each having a modulation frequency. The positioning receiver system comprises a lens to focus the light signals onto an optical sensor, an envelope detector to receive a signal from the optical sensors and provide output signals corresponding to the modulation frequency, and positioning detection circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Praveen Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20120294295
    Abstract: A dual packet configuration for wireless communications including a first portion that is modulated according to a serial modulation and a second portion that is modulated according to a parallel modulation. The serial modulation may be DSSS whereas the parallel modulation may be OFDM. The first portion may include a header, which may further include an OFDM mode bit and a length field indicating the duration the second portion. The first portion may be in accordance with 802.11b to enable dual mode devices to coexist and communicate in the same area as standard 802.11b devices. The dual mode devices can communicate at different or higher data rates without interruption from the 802.11b devices. The packet configuration may include an OFDM signal symbol which further includes a data rate section and a data count section. In this manner, data rates the same as or similar to the 802.11a data rates may be specified between dual mode devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Mark A. Webster, Steven D. Halford, Richard D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120162633
    Abstract: A positioning system and method for determining a coordinate of an object may comprise a positioning transmitter system and a positioning receiver system. The positioning transmitter system includes at least four light sources and a master anchor to modulate the light sources to emit modulated light signals each having a modulation frequency. The positioning receiver system comprises a lens to focus the light signals onto an optical sensor, an envelope detector to receive a signal from the optical sensors and provide output signals corresponding to the modulation frequency, and positioning detection circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Richard D. Roberts, Praveen Gopalakrishnan