Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Andrew S. Naglestad
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Patent number: 8229161Abstract: The invention is generally related to the systems and methods through which household appliances can provide intuitive and enhanced interactivity through visual inputs. In particular, the disclosure presents methods relating to control of a household appliance, such as a microwave or a refrigerator, via recognition of visual indicia, such as graphics, text, and the like, using a visual sensor such as a camera.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Alec Hudnut, William Gross
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Patent number: 8153944Abstract: A tracking concentrator with a positioning system for alternately aiming the tracking solar concentrator based on the sun or a database is disclosed. The preferred positioning system comprises a sensor adapted to detect an incident light level; a tracking database comprising solar angle information; an orientation processor; one or more actuators for aiming the one or more optical elements based on the orientation processor; wherein the orientation processor is configured to track the sun based on (a) the receiver if the sensed light level exceeds a determined threshold, and (b) the tracking database if the sensed light level does not exceed the determined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Braden E. Hines, William Gross
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Patent number: 8135617Abstract: The invention in some embodiments features a contextual content delivery system (CCDS) for enhancing conventional web content with pop-up bubbles that display information when a cursor hovers over a word, link, or icon. The CCDS is configured to identify words or links in a document, determine their context, select the appropriate bubble from a plural of bubble types for each of the words or links, select content for each bubble based, in part, on the context in which the words and hyperlinks are used. The context can be determined from various sources including the resource in which the word or link appears and the target resource to which the link points. Thereafter, the CCDS enhances the words or links so that bubbles are automatically invoked in response to the appropriate trigger.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Snap Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael N. Agostino, Jason P. Fields, Joseph Chen, Yovav Meydad, Jason Levine, Michael Radford, David E. Benson, Christopher Starace, Eric J. Kim
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Patent number: 8122878Abstract: The invention in the preferred embodiment features a solar concentrator that can align and/or track based on images from a video camera, for example. The concentrator preferably includes one or more optical elements for directing light to a receiver, a camera for capturing an image of the optical elements, and a controller configured to: detect the orientation of the one or more optical elements from the one or more images, determine an orientation error based on the detected orientation, and automatically orient the one or more optical elements to minimize the orientation error. The optical elements generally comprise a plurality of mirrors or lenses arranged in a one or two dimensional array.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2007Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.Inventors: William Gross, Philip Lee, Kevin Hickerson, Dylan Owens, Peter Polidoro
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Patent number: 7903838Abstract: The invention is generally related to the systems and methods through which household appliances can provide intuitive and enhanced interactivity through visual inputs. In particular, the disclosure presents methods relating to control of a household appliance, such as a microwave or a refrigerator, via recognition of visual indicia, such as graphics, text, and the like, using a visual sensor such as a camera.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Alec Hudnut, William Gross
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Patent number: 7689321Abstract: This invention is generally related to methods and apparatus that permit the measurements from a plurality of sensors to be combined or fused in a robust manner. For example, the sensors can correspond to sensors used by a mobile device, such as a robot, for localization and/or mapping. The measurements can be fused for estimation of a measurement, such as an estimation of a pose of a robot.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.Inventor: Lars Niklas Karlsson
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Patent number: 7677241Abstract: An accurate and cost effective heliostat array and method of use is disclosed. The heliostat array in the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of mirrors arrayed in a common plane, a plurality of reflector positioning arms, and a rigid positioning plate. The positioning plate, which is coupled to each of the reflectors via a positioning arm, is adapted to simultaneously aim each reflector using as few as one or two actuators. When the positioning arms forms the base of an isosceles triangle with one leg aligned with a ray directed to the sun and the other equal length leg aligned with a ray directed to the receiver, the positioning plate has the shape of a Conchoid of Nicomedes surface of revolution, which enables the heliostat array to simultaneously orient all of the mirrors to precisely focus incident sunlight from anywhere in the celestial hemisphere onto a common focal point.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Kevin P. Hickerson
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Patent number: 7646887Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for using optical flow to detect objects moving past a camera and to select images of the moving objects. A shopping cart, for example, may be detected by subdividing an image into a plurality of image blocks; comparing the blocks to a preceding image to determine the motion of the portion of the object pictured; associating the most common motion with the shopping cart. The motion of the cart may also be integrated over time for purposes of tracking cart motion and selecting a subset of the captured images for object recognition processing. Detection of the cart and image selection improves computational efficiency an increase merchandise throughput.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2006Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Evolution Robotics Retail, Inc.Inventors: Luis Goncalves, Isaac Gremmer
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Patent number: 7432596Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for bonding a substrate to a semiconductor die that is prone to curling when subjected to an elevated temperature in a solder reflow oven, for example, thereby improving the electrical and mechanical bonding for large dies, wafers, chips, and photovoltaic cells. In one embodiment, the substrate is adapted to curl to the same degree as the die to form a uniform gap between the substrate and die across the boundary there between. In another embodiment, solder used to bond the die and substrate is applied such that the volume deposited varies based on the expected gap between the die and substrate when heated to the melting temperature of the solder.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Gregory Alan Bone
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Patent number: 7432488Abstract: A tracking concentrator with a positioning system for alternately aiming the tracking solar concentrator based on the sun or a database is disclosed. The preferred positioning system comprises a sensor adapted to detect an incident light level; a tracking database comprising solar angle information; an orientation processor; one or more actuators for aiming the one or more optical elements based on the orientation processor; wherein the orientation processor is configured to track the sun based on (a) the receiver if the sensed light level exceeds a determined threshold, and (b) the tracking database if the sensed light level does not exceed the determined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Braden E. Hines, William Gross
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Patent number: 7148458Abstract: A circuit system for estimating position and orientation of a mobile object based on lights from a plurality of external light sources. The circuit comprises a position-sensitive light sensor for detecting the light sources and generating a first signal, an analog filter and amplification module (“AFA”) for filtering and amplifying the first signal and generating a second signal, a digital signal processor (“DSP”) for generating a coordinate system by extracting frequency components from the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Steve Schell, Robert Witman, Joe Brown
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Patent number: 6721309Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining packet order integrity in a switching engine wherein inbound packets are forwarded to different ones of parallel processing elements for switching. Order preservation for packets relating to the same conversation is guaranteed by checking for each inbound packet whether a previous packet from the same source is pending at a processing element and, if the check reveals that such a packet is pending, forwarding the inbound packet to the same processing element as the previous packet.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1999Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: AlcatelInventors: Geoffrey C. Stone, Scot A. Reader
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Patent number: 6717913Abstract: A multi-service network switch capable of providing multiple network services from a single platform. The switch incorporates a distributed packet forwarding architecture where each of the various cards is capable of making independent forwarding decisions. The switch further allows for dynamic resource management for dynamically assigning modem and ISDN resources to an incoming call. The switch may also include fault management features to guard against single points of failure within the switch. The switch further allows the partitioning of the switch into multiple virtual routers where each virtual router has its own wet of resources and a routing table. Each virtual router is further partitioned into virtual private networks for further controlling access to the network. The switch supports policy based routing where specific routing paths are selected based on a domain name, a telephone number, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2000Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: AlcatelInventors: Charlie Ghahremani, Richard Schunk, Desmond Young, Ben Tseng
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Patent number: 6684422Abstract: The present invention discloses an interactive infant or child blanket with a tactile apparatus for removably attaching small toys such as pacifiers, teethers, rattles, and developmental toys. The invention also includes an apparatus for removably attaching the blanket itself to other objects such as a highchairs, baby bouncers, infant swings, car seats, strollers, or shopping carts, for play control and stability. The novel attachment system allows a child to play on the go without the hassle of dropping or soiling play objects, thereby minimizing the chance of loss or exposure to germs. The blanket preferably comes packaged in a matching bag that can also carry toy attachments and perhaps a bottle and/or diapers, providing parents with a small “baby to-go” bag for quick errands and trips. In another embodiment, the retention blanket includes a blanket adapted to engage a wheelchair as required by elderly and handicap persons.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2003Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Ginger MagnoliaInventors: Abbie S. LeFevre, Lainie S. Quirk
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Patent number: D475405Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Cotapaxi, Inc.Inventor: Carl Cetera
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Patent number: D475406Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Cotapaxi, Inc.Inventor: Carl Cetera
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Patent number: D475741Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Cotapaxi, Inc.Inventor: Carl Cetera
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Patent number: D479938Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Ginger MagnoliaInventors: Lainie S. Quirk, Abbie S. LeFevre
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Patent number: D633821Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Aptera Motors, Inc.Inventors: Jason Hill, Tom Reichenbach, Kurt Danielson, Larry Thomas, Miles Wheeler, Marques McCammon, Paul Wilbur, Nathan Armstrong, Dean Bartolomucci
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Patent number: D635487Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Aptera Motors, Inc.Inventors: Jason Hill, Tom Reichenbach, Kurt Danielson, Larry Thomas, Miles Wheeler, Marques McCammon, Paul Wilbur, Nathan Armstrong, Dean Bartolomucci