Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Andrew S. Naglestad
  • Patent number: 8229161
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alec Hudnut, William Gross
  • Patent number: 8153944
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden E. Hines, William Gross
  • Patent number: 8135617
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 8122878
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: William Gross, Philip Lee, Kevin Hickerson, Dylan Owens, Peter Polidoro
  • Patent number: 7903838
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alec Hudnut, William Gross
  • Patent number: 7689321
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Niklas Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7677241
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin P. Hickerson
  • Patent number: 7646887
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Evolution Robotics Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Goncalves, Isaac Gremmer
  • Patent number: 7432596
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Alan Bone
  • Patent number: 7432488
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Energy Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden E. Hines, William Gross
  • Patent number: 7148458
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Evolution Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Schell, Robert Witman, Joe Brown
  • Patent number: 6721309
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Stone, Scot A. Reader
  • Patent number: 6717913
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Charlie Ghahremani, Richard Schunk, Desmond Young, Ben Tseng
  • Patent number: 6684422
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Ginger Magnolia
    Inventors: Abbie S. LeFevre, Lainie S. Quirk
  • Pen
    Patent number: D475405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Cotapaxi, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Cetera
  • Pen
    Patent number: D475406
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Cotapaxi, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Cetera
  • Pen
    Patent number: D475741
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Cotapaxi, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Cetera
  • Patent number: D479938
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ginger Magnolia
    Inventors: Lainie S. Quirk, Abbie S. LeFevre
  • Patent number: D633821
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Aptera Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Hill, Tom Reichenbach, Kurt Danielson, Larry Thomas, Miles Wheeler, Marques McCammon, Paul Wilbur, Nathan Armstrong, Dean Bartolomucci
  • Patent number: D635487
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Aptera Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Hill, Tom Reichenbach, Kurt Danielson, Larry Thomas, Miles Wheeler, Marques McCammon, Paul Wilbur, Nathan Armstrong, Dean Bartolomucci