Patents by Inventor Stewart R. Carl
Stewart R. Carl 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: 8542219Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing pose data derived from a pose of an elongate object such as, for example, a jotting implement, a pointer, a robotic arm or a cane. The elongate object has a tip contacting a plane surface with one or more invariant features. The pose of the elongate object is measured optically from on-board by an optical measuring system with the aid of the invariant feature. The pose is used for preparing a corresponding pose data and a subset of the pose data is identified and transmitted to an application such as a user application, where the subset can serve as command data or input data. Since the elongate object moves while its tip is contacting the surface the pose is measured periodically at sufficiently frequent measurement times ti to describe the motion at a desired temporal resolution. The subset can include all or a portion of the orientation data that describe the orientation of the elongate object in space and/or position data of the tip on the surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Electronic Scripting Products, Inc.Inventors: Stewart R. Carl, Michael J. Mandella, Guanghua G. Zhang, Hector H. Gonzalez-Banos
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Patent number: 7474809Abstract: The present invention relates to a jotting implement that infers hand-jotted information from viewing a jotting surface and environmental landmarks. The hand-jotted information is any information marked on the jotting surface as a result of writing, jotting, drawing, sketching or otherwise operating on the jotting surface as well as hand-generated information produced by moving the implement in the air with respect to the jotting surface. The jotting implement has a nib for jotting and an arrangement for determining when the nib is jotting on the jotting surface. Further, the implement has an optical unit for viewing an environmental landmark and the jotting surface. The implement has a processing unit for receiving optical data of the environmental landmark and the jotting surface from the optical unit and determining from the optical data the physical coordinates of the nib with respect to the jotting surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Electronic Scripting Products, inc.Inventors: Stewart R. Carl, Marek Alboszta, Michael J. Mandella, Hector H Gonzalez, Timothy Hawks
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Patent number: 7201029Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLCInventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Patent number: 7203384Abstract: The present invention relates to a jotting implement that infers hand-jotted information from a jotting surface. The hand-jotted information is any information marked on the jotting surface as a result of writing, jotting, drawing, sketching or in any other manner of marking or depositing marks on the jotting surface. Hand-jotted information is also information traced on the jotting surface without leaving any markings thereon or otherwise produced by the motions executed by the jotting implement with respect to the jotting surface while in contact with the jotting surface. The jotting implement has a nib for jotting and an arrangement for determining when the nib is jotting on the jotting surface. Further, the implement has an optical unit for viewing the jotting surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2003Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Electronic Scripting Products, Inc.Inventor: Stewart R. Carl
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Patent number: 7143614Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2000Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLCInventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Patent number: 7121125Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1999Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLCInventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Patent number: 7111479Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2001Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Acco brands USA LLCInventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Apparatus and method for determining an inclination of an elongate object contacting a plane surface
Patent number: 7110100Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining an inclination angle ? between an axis of an elongate object such as a cane, a pointer or a jotting implement such as a pen, pencil, stylus or the like and a normal to a plane surface at times when a tip of the elongate object is contacting that plane surface. The apparatus has an emitter mounted on the object for illuminating the plane surface with a probe radiation at an angle ? with respect to the axis of the object. The apparatus also has a detector mounted on the elongate object for detecting a radiation characteristic of a scattered portion of the probe radiation returning from the plane surface and a computing unit for deriving the inclination angle ? from the radiation characteristic. A scanning arrangement, such as a uniaxial or biaxial scanner, or a light guiding optic can be used for varying angle ?, and the probe radiation can be emitted in the form of a scan beam.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2003Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Electronic Scripting Products, Inc.Inventors: Dale H. Buermann, Hector H. Gonzalez-Banos, Michael J. Mandella, Stewart R. Carl -
Patent number: 7100403Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLCInventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur N. Zarnowitz
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Patent number: 7100404Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLCInventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Patent number: 7088440Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a pose of an elongate object and an absolute position of its tip while the tip is in contact with a plane surface having invariant features. The surface and features are illuminated with a probe radiation and a scattered portion, e.g., the back-scattered portion, of the probe radiation returning from the plane surface and the feature to the elongate object at an angle ? with respect to an axis of the object is detected. The pose is derived from a response of the scattered portion to the surface and the features and the absolute position of the tip on the surface is obtained from the pose and knowledge about the feature. The probe radiation can be directed from the object to the surface at an angle ? to the axis of the object in the form of a scan beam. The scan beam can be made to follow a scan pattern with the aid of a scanning arrangement with one or more arms and one or more uniaxial or biaxial scanners. Angle ? can also be varied, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Electronic Scripting Products, Inc.Inventors: Dale H. Buermann, Michael J. Mandella, Stewart R. Carl, Guanghua G. Zhang, Hector H. Gonzalez-Banos
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Patent number: 7023536Abstract: An apparatus and method employing principles of stereo vision for determining one or more orientation parameters and especially the second and third Euler angles ?, ? of an elongate object whose tip is contacting a surface at a contact point. The apparatus has a projector mounted on the elongate object for illuminating the surface with a probe radiation in a known pattern from a first point of view and a detector mounted on the elongate object for detecting a scattered portion of the probe radiation returning from the surface to the elongate object from a second point of view. The orientation parameters are determined from a difference between the projected and detected probe radiation such as the difference between the shape of the feature produced by the projected probe radiation and the shape of the feature detected by the detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Electronic Scripting Products, Inc.Inventors: Guanghua G. Zhang, Dale H. Buermann, Michael J. Mandella, Hector H. Gonzalez-Banos, Stewart R. Carl
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Publication number: 20040206138Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: Kensington Microware LimitedInventors: William R. Murray, Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Publication number: 20040164972Abstract: The present invention relates to a jotting implement that infers hand-jotted information from a jotting surface. The hand-jotted information is any information marked on the jotting surface as a result of writing, jotting, drawing, sketching or in any other manner of marking or depositing marks on the jotting surface. Hand-jotted information is also information traced on the jotting surface without leaving any markings thereon or otherwise produced by the motions executed by the jotting implement with respect to the jotting surface while in contact with the jotting surface. The jotting implement has a nib for jotting and an arrangement for determining when the nib is jotting on the jotting surface. Further, the implement has an optical unit for viewing the jotting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventor: Stewart R. Carl
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Patent number: 6735990Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1997Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Acco Brands, Inc.Inventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Patent number: 6662602Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a locking interface for the specially designed slot includes two legs pivotably coupled together about an articulation point. The two legs each have opposing flanges on a first end and handles on a second end. The two legs define a first and a second position, with the flanges and legs adapted for insertion and removal when in the first position. The flanges engage an inner surface of the wall when the legs are in the second position. The preferred embodiment includes a retainer that is coupled to the handles of the first and second legs that retain the legs in the second position when the flanges engage the inner surface. In the preferred embodiment, the handles define an aperture and an object extends through the aperture to hold the legs in the second position. The object may be any suitable object, including a cable or shackle of a lock.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2000Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Acco Brands, Inc.Inventor: Stewart R. Carl
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Patent number: 6588241Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1996Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: ACCO Brands, Inc.Inventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Publication number: 20030101778Abstract: A locking apparatus and method for attaching to a portable electronic device that has an outer shell defining a cavity, such as a stylus cavity in a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the like. The apparatus includes a cavity engagement mechanism having an insert portion for occupying the cavity, and a clamping mechanism coupled to the cavity engagement mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a wedge having a clamping surface that compresses against the exterior wall in a direction relative to the insert portion when the insert portion occupies the cavity, to maintain the insert portion within the cavity to secure the apparatus to the portable electronic device. In alternative embodiments, the apparatus includes a cavity engagement member that associates with the interior of the cavity when the insert portion occupies the cavity. The locking apparatus attaches to a cable or other securing means to secure the electronic device from theft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2001Publication date: June 5, 2003Applicant: Acco Brands, Inc.Inventors: Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz, William R. Murray, Ralph Merrem, Gregory Zeren, Gary Meyers
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Patent number: 6553794Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2000Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Acco Brands, Inc.Inventors: William R. Murray, Jr., Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz
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Publication number: 20020017119Abstract: An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a housing for a spindle having a first portion rotatable within the housing, a shaft extending outwardly from the housing, and a crossmember at the end of the shaft having peripheral dimensions closely conforming to the internal dimensions of the slot. An abutment mechanism also emanates from the housing, and is located on opposite sides of the shaft intermediate the housing and the crossmember. The peripheral cross-sectional dimensions of the abutment mechanism and the shaft in combination closely conform to the dimensions of the slot. The length of the shaft from the housing to the crossmember is approximately equal to the thickness of the external wall of equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2001Publication date: February 14, 2002Applicant: Acco Brands, Inc.Inventors: William R. Murray, Stewart R. Carl, Arthur H. Zarnowitz