Patents Examined by Isam Alsomiri
  • Patent number: 8867309
    Abstract: The transmission method utilizes multiple seismic acquisition units within an array as intermediate short range radio receivers/transmitters to pass collected seismic data in relay fashion back to a control station. Any one seismic unit in the array is capable of transmitting radio signals to several other seismic units positioned within radio range of the transmitting unit, thus allowing the system to select an optimal transmission path. Utilizing an array of seismic units permits transmission routes back to a control station to be varied as needed. In transmissions from the most remote seismic unit to the control station, each unit within a string receives seismic data from other units and transmits the received seismic data along with the receiving unit's locally stored seismic data. Preferably, as a transmission is passed along a chain, it is bounced between seismic units so as to be relayed by each unit in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fairfield Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler
  • Patent number: 8861309
    Abstract: Self-consistency and/or differences between volume images and interpreted spatial/volumetric context may be exploited for improving seismic imaging and estimation of attributes of geobodies, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Exemplary embodiments allow exploitation of positional and/or shape discrepancies and/or similarities of geobodies in image volumes associated with a geologic model of a geologic volume of interest to improve the accuracy of the geologic model and/or the image volumes. Constraints associated with the geologic volume of interest may be determined and/or utilized to confirm and/or specify dependencies between attributes that are potentially associated with individual geobodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Henry W. Posamentier, James P. DiSiena, Todd Dygert
  • Patent number: 8861310
    Abstract: The relative positions of two or more electronic devices can be determined utilizing ultrasonic beacons. Each device can have a unique signature that can be included in the beacon broadcast by that device. A device having an array of ultrasonic detectors can receive a beacon and correlate the beacon received at each detector. The time of arrival then can be used to determine the relative position of the source of the beacon. The signature in that beacon can also be used to determine the identity of the device that broadcast the beacon, in order to determine the identity of the device, or a user of that device, at the determined relative position. The devices can be configured to transmit signals over the air or through a specific transmission medium, such as propagating surface. Further, a dedicated detector array can be used for determining multiple relative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Karakotsios, Andrew D. Price
  • Patent number: 8857755
    Abstract: The present aircraft comprises a pair of spaced apart and parallelly disposed fuselages, a pair of wings, each wing is attached to an outer portion to each fuselage, a pyramid structure adapted to connect the pair of fuselages and an articulated propulsion system having a thrust axis, wherein the articulated propulsion system is pivotably attached to the pyramid structure and configured for angle of rotation of from about 0 degrees corresponding to the thrust axis disposed substantially parallel but at an offset to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft to about 90 degrees corresponding to the thrust axis disposed substantially at right angle to the longitudinal axis. The thrust axis substantially intersects the center of gravity when the thrust axis is disposed substantially at right angle to the longitudinal axis and the thruster is capable of angle of rotation of about 0 degrees or 90 degrees during take-off or landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Utterfly Aircraft, LLC
    Inventor: Munawar Karim
  • Patent number: 8851425
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a removable support (10) for optional equipment (6) on an aircraft (1). The support (10) comprises an elongate beam (20) fitted with at least one attachment point for a piece of equipment and extending from a first end portion (21) to a second end portion (22), and the support (10) is provided with first fastener means (30) provided with a first fastener arm (31) connected to a first link arm (32) that is releasably fastened to the first end portion (21), and with second fastener means (40) provided with a second fastener arm (41) connected to a second link arm (42) that is releasably fastened to the second end portion (22), a first support rod (34) also connecting the first fastener arm (31) to the first link arm (32), and a second support rod (44) also connecting the second fastener arm (41) to the second link arm (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Sophie Ferrendier, Patrice Guerard, Ludovic Somson, Patrice Godiot, David Figoureux
  • Patent number: 8848172
    Abstract: A handheld measuring device for optical distance measurement includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, an evaluation device, and a homogenizing device. The transmitting device is configured to transmit periodically modulated optical measurement radiation toward a target object. The receiving device is configured to detect optical measurement radiation returning from the target object. The evaluation device is configured to receive and evaluate detection signals of the receiving device. The evaluation device comprises a plurality of accumulation devices configured to accumulate detection signals. The evaluation device conducts detection signals during a sampling time window from a plurality of sampling time windows temporally schematically changeably to an assigned accumulation device from the plurality of accumulation devices, such that the accumulation device accumulates the detection signals during the sampling time window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Eisele, Bernd Schmidtke, Reiner Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 8844874
    Abstract: Rear fuselage of an aircraft comprising a tail cone end and a rest of the real fuselage whereby the tail cone end is attached to the rest of the rear fuselage by means of an attachment system comprising a balancer fitting, three lugs and a waiting link. When there is a failure in one of the lugs, the balancer fitting acts supporting loads in the transversal direction of the aircraft. The waiting link only acts if a failure in other link occurs. This waiting link is able to support loads in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations, S.L.
    Inventors: José Maria Pina López, Pablo Timoteo Sanz Martinez
  • Patent number: 8844873
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus to provide a panel stiffening element. The apparatus has an outer braided thermoplastic tube and an inner braided thermoplastic tube disposed within the outer braided thermoplastic tube. The apparatus further has a separation ply layer co-consolidated between the outer braided thermoplastic tube and the inner braided thermoplastic tube. The separation ply layer provides reinforcement and impact damage resistance to the inner braided thermoplastic tube in order to avoid a loss in structural loading capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jeffery Lee Marcoe
  • Patent number: 8844865
    Abstract: A multifunctional module is provided for a passenger services conduit in an aircraft. The multifunctional module includes, but is not limited to a first interface and at least one utility unit for providing a passenger with services. The first interface is for connecting the utility unit to the passenger utility conduit, the interface, for example, being designed as a mechanical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Gehm, Thomas Vogt, Andreas Dannenberg
  • Patent number: 8837257
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a computer-implemented method for generating a modulated acoustic carrier signal for wireless transmission from a speaker of a transmit device to a microphone of a receive device. Aspects of the exemplary embodiments include converting a message to binary data; modulating one or more selected frequencies for one or more acoustic carrier signals based on the binary data to generate one or more modulated acoustic carrier signals; filtering the one or more modulated acoustic carrier signals to remove any unintended audible harmonics created during modulation, including; equalizing the modulated acoustic carrier signal to pre-compensate for known degradations that will occur further along a signal path; setting a level of the modulated acoustic carrier signal for the intended application; and storing the modulated acoustic carrier signal in a buffer for subsequent output and transmission by the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Verifone Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard S. Surprenant, Chad G. Seguin, Brett L. Paulson
  • Patent number: 8836922
    Abstract: A LIDAR device may transmit light pulses originating from one or more light sources and may receive reflected light pulses that are then detected by one or more detectors. The LIDAR device may include a lens that both (i) collimates the light from the one or more light sources to provide collimated light for transmission into an environment of the LIDAR device and (ii) focuses the reflected light onto the one or more detectors. The lens may define a curved focal surface in a transmit path of the light from the one or more light sources and a curved focal surface in a receive path of the one or more detectors. The one or more light sources may be arranged along the curved focal surface in the transmit path. The one or more detectors may be arranged along the curved focal surface in the receive path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Gaetan Pennecot, Pierre-Yves Droz, Drew Eugene Ulrich, Daniel Gruver, Zachary Morriss, Anthony Levandowski
  • Patent number: 8836923
    Abstract: A light source transmits detecting light toward an object. The object reflects the detecting light and forms a reflected light. A sensor is used for sensing the reflected light. Then, an exposure control unit coupled to the sensor performs luminance convergence on the reflected light according to luminance of the reflected light sensed by the sensor. And a distance measurement device coupled to the sensor detects a distance between the object and the light source and/or the sensor according to an image position of the reflected light on the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: En-Feng Hsu, Chi-Chieh Liao, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 8833300
    Abstract: A milking unit comprising a milk-collecting component and at least two milk tubes which are connected to the milk-collecting component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Gea Farm Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Auburger, Martin Neumann, Thomas Rohring
  • Patent number: 8837259
    Abstract: Method, source and seismic vibro-acoustic source element configured to generate acoustic waves under water. The seismic vibro-acoustic source element includes an enclosure having first and second openings; first and second pistons configured to close the first and second openings; an actuator system provided inside the enclosure and configured to actuate the first and second pistons to generate a wave having first frequency; and a pressure mechanism attached to the enclosure and configured to control a pressure of a fluid inside the enclosure such that a pressure of the fluid is substantially equal to an ambient pressure of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Cggveritas Services SA
    Inventors: Laurent Ruet, Robert Dowle, Benoit Teyssandier
  • Patent number: 8836931
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a detection system for acquiring the SPR angle, including a modulatable SPR sensor to be detected; an incident light source apparatus; a photoelectric detector; a narrowband filter system; a modulated signal source for generating an alternating current signal that is used to modulate said modulatable SPR sensor; and a data processing system for recording the corresponding relationship between the incident angle and the intensity of the filtered reflected light and further obtaining the resonance angle of said modulatable SPR sensor. The present disclosure also provides a corresponding detection method for acquiring the SPR angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China, Beihang University
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Jinsong Zhu, Zheng Zheng, Jiangfeng Fan
  • Patent number: 8837258
    Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for using acoustics to communicate between a macro-scale transceiver and a micro-device or between multiple micro-devices. The micro-devices may passively scatter sound from a transceiver or actively generate sound. Acoustic waves can also provide power to a micro-device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Tad Hogg, Robert A. Freitas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8833693
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for selectively transmitting force, the device comprising a first element and a second element that is movably mounted on the first element, a friction member being arranged between the first element and the second element to exert a friction force between them, which force presents a maximum value that depends on prestress imparted by a presser member. The device includes control means for varying the prestress imparted by the presser member to the friction member and arranged, where appropriate, to substantially release the prestress imparted by the presser member so that the prestress becomes substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Gérard Balducci
  • Patent number: 8830791
    Abstract: Implementations and techniques for measuring 3D coordinates of a transmitter using a receiver and a reflector are generally disclosed. The receiver may be attached asymmetrically to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Tomoaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 8830794
    Abstract: Method, source and seismic vibro-acoustic source element configured to generate acoustic waves under water. The seismic vibro-acoustic source element includes an enclosure having first and second openings; first and second pistons configured to close the first and second openings; an actuator system provided inside the enclosure and configured to actuate the first and second pistons to generate a wave having first frequency; and a pressure mechanism attached to the enclosure and configured to control a pressure of a fluid inside the enclosure such that a pressure of the fluid is substantially equal to an ambient pressure of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: CGGVeritas Services SA
    Inventors: Laurent Ruet, Robert Dowle, Benoit Teyssandier
  • Patent number: 8830792
    Abstract: Mobile device localization using audio signals is described. In an example, a mobile device is localized by receiving a first audio signal captured by a microphone located at the mobile device and a second audio signal captured from a further microphone. A correlation value between the first audio signal and second audio signal is computed, and this is used to determine whether the mobile device is in proximity to the further microphone. In one example, the mobile device can receive the audio signals from the further microphone and calculate the correlation value. In another example, a server can receive the audio signals from the mobile device and the further microphone and calculate the correlation value. In examples, the further microphone can be a fixed microphone at a predetermined location, or the further microphone can be a microphone located in another mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Taylor, Timothy Regan, Philip Gosset, Dinan Gunawardena, Eno Thereska