Patents Examined by Michael C Grant
  • Patent number: 10990888
    Abstract: A method for operating a cognitive monitor includes measuring a cognitive tone of a user, determining a categorization of the cognitive tone of the user, selecting an effector using the categorization of the cognitive tone of the user, and applying the at least one effector using a feedback mechanism of the cognitive monitor. The effector is selected to achieve a predicted future cognitive tone in the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Valentina Salapura, Maja Vukovic
  • Patent number: 10977958
    Abstract: A display unit is controlled to display guidance such as to instruct an operator to move a spindle up and down near the Z-axis position at which the tool is transferred between a grip and the spindle and to observe a lateral movement of the tip of a tool at the same time. Then, when the tip of the tool moves laterally, the display unit is controlled to display guidance to instruct the operator to raise the spindle and turn a turret so as to reduce the lateral movement of the tip of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuzou Inaguchi, Gaku Isobe, Yasuaki Koyama
  • Patent number: 10942645
    Abstract: In an example method, a user interface is presented by a device on a touch sensitive surface of the device. The user interface includes a first portion for displaying a sequence of code and a second portion for displaying suggested bracketed functions. The device receives a first touch gesture dragging a suggested bracketed function from the second portion to the first portion of the user interface. Responsive to receiving the first touch gesture, the suggested bracketed function is inserted into the sequence of code. The bracketed function encloses at least a portion of the sequence of code. The device receives a second touch gesture dragging an end bracket associated with the inserted bracketed function. Responsive to receiving the second touch gesture, the sequence of code is modified such that the bracketed function encloses an additional portion of the sequence of code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Behzad Aghaei, Christopher A. Lattner, Donald M. Firlik, Kenneth S. Orr, Matthew M. Patenaude, Maxwell O. Drukman, Michael S. Ferris, Samuel C. Page, Sonny Falk, Timothy V. Isted, William A. Dudney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10896580
    Abstract: A gaming system and method which provides a community group event to a plurality of players at a plurality of the gaming devices in the gaming system. Each gaming device participating in the group event is associated with an individual group event eligibility timer. Such individual group event eligibility timers regularly decrement based on time and may increment based on one or more aspects of the player's gaming experience, such as wagers placed. If the individual group event eligibility timer associated with a gaming device participating in the group event lapses before the conclusion of a group event timer or mode, that gaming device is eliminated from the group event. Upon the conclusion of the group event, a group event award is shared amongst the players at the remaining or non-eliminated gaming devices (i.e., the gaming devices associated with individual group event eligibility timers with any amount of remaining time).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Daniel J. DeWaal, Glen Keith Russell, Alexandria E. P. Sutich, Anthony J. Baerlocher, David H. Muir
  • Patent number: 10861352
    Abstract: An ophthalmological teaching aid includes a shell having an outer surface, an interior, a student region with a viewing window, and an observation target in the interior of the shell. The observation target is positioned to be visible to a viewer looking through the viewing window and has at least one feature residing at a feature location. The teaching aid also includes an instructor region spatially corresponding to at least a portion of the observation target. The teaching aid includes a landmark corresponding to the feature location. The presence of the landmark enables the instructor to assess a student's skill in using an ophthalmoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Perkins, Christopher Daly, Erin Mickam
  • Patent number: 10854112
    Abstract: A portable surgical training device is provided. The trainer includes a top cover spaced apart from a base to form a simulated body cavity for locating model organs that are substantially obscured from the field of view of the user. The top cover includes a video display, fixed insertion ports and interchangeable inserts containing simulated tissue layers. The training device has open sides for demonstrating and training lateral surgical techniques including a simulated or live tissue colon attached to a support leg for simulating transanal minimally invasive surgery. A training endoscope with an adjustable focal length for use with the trainer and, in particular, with optical trocars is disclosed. The surgical trainer can be angled and is well suited for training laparoscopic surgery techniques and demonstrating surgical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Boun Pravong, Kennii Pravongviengkham, Lee Cohen, Charles C. Hart, Vivek Sikri, Zoran Falkenstein, Richard W. Conklin, Eduardo Bolanos, Adam Hoke, Jacob J. Filek, Michael Palermo
  • Patent number: 10846977
    Abstract: This concept is directed to gaming devices configured to vary the speed of game play, as well as method of operating gaming devices to vary the speed of play. In some examples of this concept, a gaming device may be configured to include a game initiating button that when pressed by a player triggers a game processor to ascertain and display a first game outcome, determine if the first game outcome is a winning outcome, and automatically ascertain and display a second game outcome if the first game outcome is not a winning outcome. If the first game outcome is a winning outcome the gaming device may pause to allow the player to appreciate the win before retriggering the processor to ascertain and display subsequent gaming event outcomes, or the gaming device may wait to receive further player input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 10832595
    Abstract: Disclosed is a medico-surgical simulator and to a corresponding method. The medico-surgical simulator includes a vascularization device and/or a ventilation device, as well as a regulation device. The medico-surgical simulator is arranged so as to be connected to a cadaver and to vascularize an arterial system of the cadaver via the vascularization device and/or to ventilate a respiratory system of the cadaver via the ventilation device. The regulation device controls the vascularization and ventilation devices in such a way as to simulate cardiorespiratory functions for providing surgical training carried out on the cadaver with a very high degree of realism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITE DE POITIERS, CENTRE HOSPITALIER UNIVERSITAIRE DE POITIERS, INSERM—INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Richer, Jean-Pierre Faure, Denis Oriot, Cyril Breque, Pierre Olivier Delpech, Daniel-Aïham Ghazali
  • Patent number: 10825358
    Abstract: A training or rating system includes a shape sensing enabled device (104) and a database (140) of possible shapes and sequences of shapes for the shape sensing enabled device. The possible shapes and sequences of shapes include a collection of poses derived by appropriately performing a procedure with the shape sensing enabled device. A comparison module (154) is configured to compare real-time poses of the shape sensing enabled device with the collection of poses in the database to output comparison feedback for a user of the shape sensing enabled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Manzke, Raymond Chan, Bharat Ramachandran, Michael Chun-chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 10818195
    Abstract: A learning method to be implemented by an electronic device including a processor and a display unit and cooperating with an imaging frame includes: storing a set of image data related to a virtual 3D image of an object, and a total score associated with the object; displaying, by the display unit, image parts respectively on display areas that surround a central area according to the set of image data, in a manner that the virtual 3D image of the object is reconstructed in the imaging frame when the imaging frame is placed on the display unit and corresponds to the central area in position; determining, by the processor, whether a time duration for which the display unit displays the image parts is not smaller than a predetermined time duration; and when affirmative, adding, by the processor, a learning score to the total score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tzu-Chien Liu, Chao-Ling Chen
  • Patent number: 10806532
    Abstract: A surgical simulation device includes a support structure and animal tissue carried in a tray. A simulated human skeleton is carried by the support structure above the animal tissue and includes simulated human skin. A camera images the animal tissue and an image processor receives images of markers positioned on the ribs and animal tissue and forms a three-dimensional wireframe image. An operating table is adjacent a local robotic surgery station as part of a robotic surgery station and includes at least one patient support configured to support the patient during robotic surgery. At least one patient force/torque sensor is coupled to the at least one patient support and configured to sense at least one of force and torque experienced by the patient during robotic surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KINDHEART, INC.
    Inventors: W. Andrew Grubbs, Samuel D. Drew
  • Patent number: 10744913
    Abstract: Active vibration isolation (AVI) systems are becoming more available in various markets, one such market being vehicle operator seating. Unfamiliarity with the performance of such systems may cause users initial perceptions of system performance to be unfavorable. AVI systems can include a demonstration system capable of providing simulations too users of various types of vibration isolation systems under various input conditions, so that users can be introduced to the system benefits over other systems before using an AVI equipped product in its intended application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
    Inventors: Antonio Sangermano, II, James A. Parison, Brian A. Selden
  • Patent number: 10733841
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a controller linked to a plurality of gaming devices. The central server tracks: (i) a quantity of gaming devices being actively played by players, or (ii) a quantity of players actively playing at the gaming devices. The controller determines the players' eligibility for different awards based on the tracked quantity. When the controller tracks a first quantity, the controller provides the active players with an opportunity to win a first award. When the central server tracks a second quantity, the central server provides the active players with an opportunity to win a second award. As the tracked quantity changes, the controller determines or modifies the number of awards available to the players actively playing at the gaming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Rogelio S. Decasa, Jr., Kelsy J. Grace, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 10698493
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for providing a virtual environment with enhanced visual and haptic detail. In some embodiments, the haptic tool and haptic target are assigned affordance and susceptibility values, respectively, that are used to determine visual and haptic feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: FVRVS LIMITED
    Inventors: Ian Hew Crowther, Victoria Jane Smalley
  • Patent number: 10692394
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles to provide customized cooking instructions to users via a communications device. The user is provided with audio/visual prompts depicting one or more ending characteristics of a food product, such as texture or doneness. The user provides a selection of the one or more ending characteristics according to the user's preferences. A processor-based device determines one or more output food preparation parameters based on the user's selection of the one or more ending characteristics for the food product. The one or more determined output food preparation parameters are provided to a communication device of the user so that the user may cook the food product according to the output food preparation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Breville USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Young, Douglas Baldwin, Michael Natkin, Nelson Timothy Salazar
  • Patent number: 10664571
    Abstract: A communicative water bottle includes communication logic and wireless transmission logic technology electronically connected with a variety of sensors either on the water bottle or located remote from the water bottle. The sensors on the bottle create digital data associated with amount of fluid in the bottle and change thereof. The sensors remote from the bottle, which can be on an activity tracker, create digital data associated with an activity being performed by a user, such as running, or the absence of activity, such as remaining sedentary. A display on the bottle can indicate to the user the amount of fluid consumed or a reminder that fluid should be consumed. The fluid consumption data syncs with other remote devices such as mobile applications executable on smartphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Xennial IP LLC
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Wernow, Howard L. Wernow
  • Patent number: 10639235
    Abstract: A system for facilitating a subject's functional development includes sensing devices configured for sensing mind state signals; sensing devices configured for sensing body state signals; and a set of processing resources configured for generating a mind state indicator/measure, a body state indicator/measure, and a mind-body synergy indicator/measure that corresponds to which each of the subject's mind state and body state are synergistically aligned for facilitating the subject's functional development. The system can be configured for concurrently presenting a set of activities involving a model body part; engaging in attempted imitation of the set of activities by way of attempted movement of a body part that is a mirror image of the model body part; presenting an indication of an extent to which each of the mind state and body state are cooperative with respect to performance of the set of activities; and presenting an indication of relaxation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Subhasis Banerji, Kok Hui John Gerard Heng
  • Patent number: 10580325
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of performing computerized simulations of image-guided procedures. The method may comprise receiving medical image data of a specific patient. A patient-specific digital image-based model of an anatomical structure of the specific patient may be generated based on the medical image data. A computerized simulation of an image-guided procedure may be performed using the digital image-based model. Medical image data, the image-based model and a simulated medical tool model may be simultaneously displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SIMBIONIX LTD.
    Inventors: Ran Bronstein, Niv Fisher, Ofek Shilon
  • Patent number: 10565899
    Abstract: This invention is an apparatus consisting of components that can be assembled and reassembled in various configurations allowing students to perform multiple physics and engineering experiments, with sensors and electronics integrated into the apparatus that allowing extraction of data via integrated data links, while computing and displaying results graphically in near real time. The principal component of the system is a linear drive system with a movable carriage, the position of which is measureable by various rotary and linear encoders. Load cells are able to measure forces of compression and tension. Temperature and Pressure sensors are able to measure gas pressure and the thermal conductivity of materials. The various components of this flexible educational tool can be disassembled and stored in a portable “toolkit”, the size of a small briefcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Mentis Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Dignam, Dennis P. Chou, Glen C. Bousquet
  • Patent number: 10497279
    Abstract: Embodiments regard nutrition assessment using a handheld device. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a handle with a controller within the handle, an attachment arm extending from the handle, and a user-assistive device coupled with an end of the attachment arm, wherein the apparatus is to determine a mass held by the user-assistive device, the determination being made during a task by a user of the handheld tool including manipulation of the handheld tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Anupam Pathak, Timothy J. Prachar