Patents by Inventor Robert Carroll

Robert Carroll 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: 10417489
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and embodiments related to aligning an image of a table of a form with an image of a table of a template of the form. Automatically extracting data entered in fields of a table of a form by a user can be aided by matching the form with a template of the form. The form template can have a digitized representation that identifies locations of fields of the form, and that identifies labels of the fields. Matching the form with the form template can enable locations and labels of fields of the form to be identified based on the digitized representation. However, matching the form with the form template may require matching the table of the form with the table of the form template, and matching two tables can be challenging. For example, the tables can be rotated, warped, scaled, etc. relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Captricity, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Carroll
  • Patent number: 10325298
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium may include executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to provide for a non-destructive testing (NDT) ecosystem. The NDT ecosystem includes a repository of digital content, and a store configured to sell the digital content to a customer, wherein the digital content is executable by a NDT device and wherein the digital content is created by a plurality of entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Robert Carroll Ward, Michael Christopher Domke, Scott Leo Sbihli, Francois Xavier De Fromont, Jason Howard Messinger
  • Publication number: 20190168787
    Abstract: An inspection management system is provided. The inspection management system includes an inspection data provider that receives inspection data relating to an inspector, one or more devices used to complete an inspection, one or more assets associated with an inspection, an inspection plan, etc. A display of the inspection management system presents one or more graphical user interfaces based upon the inspection data. The graphical user interfaces may facilitate inspection planning, execution, preparation, and/or real-time inspection monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Jason Howard Messinger, Robert Carroll Ward, Michael Christopher Domke, Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Scott Leo Sbihli, Thomas Eldred Lambdin, Steven Clifton, Dattaraj Jagdish Rao, Anju Bind, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Peter Henry Tu, Mark Bradshaw Kraeling, Anwarul Azam, Matthew Lawrence Blair, Shannon Joseph Clouse
  • Patent number: 10290206
    Abstract: A system may include a non-destructive testing (NDT) device. The NDT device may further include a communications system configured to receive control data from an external system, wherein the NDT device is configured to use the control data to control a component included in the NDT device, to control a parameter of the NDT device, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Howard Messinger, Robert Carroll Ward, Francois Xavier De Fromont, Michael Christopher Domke
  • Publication number: 20190133351
    Abstract: The invention provides a support body having a magnetic or ferromagnetic component to adhere the support body to a magnetic or ferromagnetic support, such as a table top by magnetic attraction. A reusable adhering component, such as a stretch-releasable pressure sensitive adhesive tape is disposed on a top surface of the support body to removably attach tableware or dishware to the support body. The support body can be in the form of a plate, a coaster, a placemat, or other known configuration. Alternatively, a support body can be releasably secured to a table top or other support surface by a releasable attaching device such as a suction cup and a supported body can be releasably attached to a piece of tableware or dishware by a releasable attaching device such as a suction cup, and the support body and the supported body can be magnetically attached to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Jodi A Carroll, James Robert Carroll
  • Publication number: 20190028025
    Abstract: A switched-capacitor converter includes a rectifier at the output, a plurality of legs coupled between the input and the rectifier, and a controller. Each leg of the switched-capacitor converter includes a capacitor, and a switch device is connected to each leg. A first group of the legs is coupled to a first branch of the rectifier, and a second group of the legs is coupled to a second branch of the rectifier. The controller alternates switching of the first and second groups of legs after startup, to transfer energy from the input to the output during a first part of each switching cycle via the first group of legs and to ground during a second part of each switching cycle via the second group of legs. The controller or a current limited source provides for pre-charging of at least one of the capacitors during startup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Amir Babazadeh, Jens Ejury, Benjamim Tang, Robert Carroll
  • Publication number: 20180219925
    Abstract: A collaboration system may include a computing device that may communicate with the at least one other computing device via a computing network network. The computing device may receive data that has been acquired using one or more non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection devices, receive an input that may cause a list of one or more experts indicated as available to collaborate to be derived. The computing device may also receive a selection of at least one expert from the list of experts. After receiving the expert selection, the computing device may establish a communication connection between the computing device and the at least one other computing device that corresponds to the at least one expert. Here, the communication connection may share data depicted on the computing device with the at least one other computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Robert Carroll Ward, Michael Christopher Domke, Jason Howard Messinger, Scott Leo Sbihli
  • Patent number: 9998020
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes a power stage, a passive circuit, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch component, and a control circuit. The passive circuit couples the power stage to an output node of the voltage converter, and is switchably coupled to ground by the SR switch component. The SR switch component includes a plurality of SR switches, which are independently controllable. The control circuit determines which of the SR switches are to be activated/enabled, and only uses those SR switches in its variable switching of the voltage converter. The determination of which SR switches are to be activated/enabled is based upon an estimate of the output current for the voltage converter. By using more SR switches when the voltage converter is fully loaded, and fewer SR switches when it is lightly loaded, the power loss of the SR switch component is minimized and the voltage converter is more power efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Amir Babazadeh, Robert Carroll
  • Patent number: 9954908
    Abstract: A collaboration system may include a computing device that may communicate with the at least one other computing device via a computing network network. The computing device may receive data that has been acquired using one or more non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection devices, receive an input that may cause a list of one or more experts indicated as available to collaborate to be derived. The computing device may also receive a selection of at least one expert from the list of experts. After receiving the expert selection, the computing device may establish a communication connection between the computing device and the at least one other computing device that corresponds to the at least one expert. Here, the communication connection may share data depicted on the computing device with the at least one other computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Robert Carroll Ward, Michael Christopher Domke, Jason Howard Messinger, Scott Leo Sbihli
  • Patent number: 9881510
    Abstract: A testing system for use in conducting testing of a structure, and a method for configuring a testing system are provided. The testing system includes a testing device that includes a presentation interface, a user input interface, a memory device and a processor coupled in communication with the presentation interface, the user input interface, and the memory device. The processor causes the testing device to present to a user, prior to a test session, at least one demonstrative instruction for conducting a test session using the testing device, and at least one test instruction for use while the user is conducting a test session using the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Groninger, Robert Carroll Ward, Francois Xavier de Fromont, Chad Martin Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20180024624
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing comfort levels associated with user experience of a virtual reality environment is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: JOHN CHARLES GENTILIN, MIHIR SHAH, ANDREW RAYMOND BUCK, JONATHAN LINSNER, MARC ANTHONY BOURGET, ROBERT CARROLL
  • Patent number: 9838442
    Abstract: A collaboration system may include a first computing device that may communicate with at least one other computing device via a computing network. The computing network may communicatively couple to a number of computing devices and the first computing device may receive inspection data acquired by one or more non-destructive testing (NDT) devices. After receiving the inspection data, the first computing device may determine at least one of a workflow for analyzing the inspection data based on the inspection data, a layout configured to display the inspection data, or a set of tools configured to analyze the inspection data. The first computing device may then implement the workflow, display the inspection data according to the layout, and/or display the set of tools. The workflow may include one or more processes that may be used to analyze the inspection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Michael Christopher Domke, Jason Howard Messinger, Thomas Eldred Lambdin, Charles Burton Theurer, Robert Carroll Ward, Susan Montagna, Scott Leo Sbihli
  • Patent number: 9837907
    Abstract: A resonant or semi-resonant voltage converter includes a synchronous rectification (SR) switch through which a current having a half-cycle sinusoidal-like shape is conducted when the SR switch is active. The current through the SR switch is estimated, so that a zero-crossing condition may be detected and used for turning off the SR switch near the optimal point at which zero current is flowing through the SR switch. The current through the SR switch may be estimated based upon a measurement of the current flowing through the SR switch, a measurement of the current flowing out from the secondary side of a transformer in the voltage converter, or a measurement corresponding to the current flowing into the primary side of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Amir Babazadeh, Robert Carroll, David Williams
  • Patent number: 9832558
    Abstract: An anti-shock self-powered microphone and monitor system for wind or brass instruments includes a mounting basket and mounting ring, a microphone and microphone mount disposed within the mounting ring, and a wired or wireless personal monitor connected to the microphone. One filament fastens the microphone within the mounting ring by engaging a mounting ring coupling attached to the mounting ring and the microphone mount. Another filament fastens the mounting ring coupling to a bell mounting coupling thereby providing for removeably attaching the system to a bell of a wind or brass instrument. The mounting basket is adaptable in size to accommodate the attachment of the mounting basket to the bell of a saxophone, trumpet, a plurality of brass instruments a wide array of instruments such as, for example the bell of a clarinet, a saxophone, a trumpet, a trombone, a tuba and a sousaphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Carroll Smith
  • Publication number: 20170317595
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes a power stage, a passive circuit, a synchronous rectification (SR) switch component, and a control circuit. The passive circuit couples the power stage to an output node of the voltage converter, and is switchably coupled to ground by the SR switch component. The SR switch component includes a plurality of SR switches, which are independently controllable. The control circuit determines which of the SR switches are to be activated/enabled, and only uses those SR switches in its variable switching of the voltage converter. The determination of which SR switches are to be activated/enabled is based upon an estimate of the output current for the voltage converter. By using more SR switches when the voltage converter is fully loaded, and fewer SR switches when it is lightly loaded, the power loss of the SR switch component is minimized and the voltage converter is more power efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Amir Babazadeh, Robert Carroll
  • Publication number: 20170201818
    Abstract: An anti-shock self-powered microphone and monitor system for wind or brass instruments includes a mounting basket and mounting ring, a microphone and microphone mount disposed within the mounting ring, and a wired or wireless personal monitor connected to the microphone. One filament fastens the microphone within the mounting ring by engaging a mounting ring coupling attached to the mounting ring and the microphone mount. Another filament fastens the mounting ring coupling to a bell mounting coupling thereby providing for removeably attaching the system to a bell of a wind or brass instrument. The mounting basket is adaptable in size to accommodate the attachment of the mounting basket to the bell of a saxophone, trumpet, a plurality of brass instruments a wide array of instruments such as, for example the bell of a clarinet, a saxophone, a trumpet, a trombone, a tuba and a sousaphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Carroll Smith
  • Publication number: 20170148309
    Abstract: A system may include a non-destructive testing (NDT) device. The NDT device may further include a communications system configured to receive control data from an external system, wherein the NDT device is configured to use the control data to control a component included in the NDT device, to control a parameter of the NDT device, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Jason Howard Messinger, Robert Carroll Ward, Francois Xavier De Fromont, Michael Christopher Domke
  • Publication number: 20170147552
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and embodiments related to aligning an image of a table of a form with an image of a table of a template of the form. Automatically extracting data entered in fields of a table of a form by a user can be aided by matching the form with a template of the form. The form template can have a digitized representation that identifies locations of fields of the form, and that identifies labels of the fields. Matching the form with the form template can enable locations and labels of fields of the form to be identified based on the digitized representation. However, matching the form with the form template may require matching the table of the form with the table of the form template, and matching two tables can be challenging. For example, the tables can be rotated, warped, scaled, etc. relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Carroll
  • Patent number: 9641569
    Abstract: A collaboration system for sharing data in a non-destructive testing (NDT) system may include a first computing device that may receive data that has been acquired using one or more NDT inspection devices. The first computing device may then establish a communication connection between itself and some other computing device such that the communication connection may enable the first computing device to share data with the other computing device. After establishing the communication connection, the first computing device may determine location information that corresponds to the data. Using the location information, the first computing device may then determine one or more assets that correspond to the data. The first computing device may then identify information associated with the assets and display the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Domke, Sekhar Soorianarayanan, Thomas Eldred Lambdin, Robert Carroll Ward, Scott Leo Sbihli
  • Patent number: 9635332
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, the system and method disclosed herein process light-field image data so as to mitigate or remove the effects of pixel saturation in light-field images. A light-field image may be captured with a light-field image capture device with a microlens array. The light-field image may be demodulated, and then a recovered value for each saturated pixel of the demodulated light-field image may be obtained. This may be done by comparing a saturated value of each saturated pixel with reference values of reference pixels proximate the saturated pixel and, if the proximate pixels have a higher reference value than the saturated value, setting the saturated pixel to the reference value. This process may be carried out iteratively until recovered values are obtained for the saturated pixels. A demodulated, saturation-recovered light-field image may then be generated and displayed with the recovered values for the saturated pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Carroll