Patents by Inventor Alistair K. Chan

Alistair K. Chan 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).

  • Patent number: 10674685
    Abstract: A method of pollinating a plant includes receiving, with a processing circuit, plant data regarding a plant having flowers, and controlling, by the processing circuit, operation of an robotic device to selectively pollinate a portion of the plurality of flowers based on the plant data. The robotic device includes sensors configured to acquire plant data, a pollination device configured to pollinate flowers of a plant, a collection device configured to collect pollen, and a pollination prevention device configured prevent a flower from being pollinated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Caldeira, Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Max N. Mankin, Tony S. Pan, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10665332
    Abstract: A method for facilitating physiological data acquisition includes scheduling a medical appointment between a patient and a medical provider. The medical appointment is to be conducted at a medical provider location on an appointment date. The method also includes selecting a medical device configured to acquire physiological data regarding the patient. The method further includes sending, to a fulfillment system, a request to provide the medical device to a patient location prior to the appointment date. The patient location is remote from the medical provider location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Joel Cherkis, Paul H. Dietz, Tom Driscoll, William Gates, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Neil Jordan, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Patrick Neill, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, David R. Smith, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Desney S. Tan, Clarence T. Tegreene, David L. Tennenhouse, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Gary Wachowicz, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 10552571
    Abstract: A surface covering layout system includes a processing circuit configured to receive image data regarding one or more images associated with a surface to be covered with a surface covering, and generate a surface covering layout based on the image data, the surface covering layout providing an indication of a pattern of a plurality of covering members included in the surface covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde
  • Patent number: 10499693
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to selectively stiffenable assemblies, protective garments and systems that include such selectively stiffenable assemblies for protecting one or more body portions of an individual wearing the protective garment, and methods of protecting a subject from an impact with a protective garment worn by the subject. A protective may include a plurality of first shield segments forming a first arrangement, a plurality of second shield segments laterally offset from the plurality of first shield segments and forming a second arrangement, and a compression mechanism operably coupled to the plurality of first shield segments and to the plurality of second shield segments and configured to compress together at least one of the plurality of first shield segments and at least one of the plurality of second shield segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Hon Wah Chin, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Alistair K. Chan, Jordin T. Kare
  • Patent number: 10469830
    Abstract: A system for detecting and responding to an intruding camera. The system includes an electronic media display device having a screen configured to display content, a sensor, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to obtain information from the sensor, analyze the information to determine a presence of a camera, and edit any displayed content in response to the presence of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, William D. Duncan, William Gates, Daniel A. Gerrity, Pablos Holman, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark. A. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Keith D. Rosema, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10449445
    Abstract: An electronic game feedback system includes a display device, a sensor system, and a feedback device. The display device is configured to provide a display of a virtual environment associated with an electronic game to a user. The display device at least partially obstructs the view of the user of a physical environment surrounding the user. The sensor system is configured to acquire object data regarding an object located within the physical environment. The feedback device is configured to provide feedback to the user based on the object data and indicative of a location of the object relative to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Ehren J. Brav, Alistair K. Chan, William David Duncan, Michael Allan Schneider
  • Patent number: 10402637
    Abstract: A method of converting user-selected printed text to a synthesized image sequence is provided. The method includes capturing a first image of printed text and generating a model information associated with the text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, William Gates, Pablos Holman, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Keith David Rosema, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10368496
    Abstract: An unmanned pruning vehicle includes a pruning device configured to prune plant material from a plant. The unmanned pruning vehicle also includes a processing circuit is configured to control operation of the pruning device to prune a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Tony S. Pan, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10371814
    Abstract: A soil detection and planting apparatus. The apparatus includes a vehicle and a controller coupled to the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a planting device coupled to the vehicle, the planting device configured to plant seeds or plants into a soil material. The apparatus includes a ground penetrating radar sensor coupled to the vehicle. The ground penetrating radar soil sensor is configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an intrinsic characteristic of the soil material. The controller is configured to instruct placement of a seed or a plant into the soil material based on the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, William David Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10348884
    Abstract: A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10336453
    Abstract: A system and method for payload management for an unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. The payload management system and method may comprise a containment system configured to contain payload carried by the UAV/aircraft. The UAV/aircraft may be configured to carry payload in an external pod as part of the containment system. The pod carried by the UAV/craft may be fillable/inflatable to contain payload and facilitate aerodynamic performance of the UAV/craft carrying payload (e.g. on a mission from originator to destination for delivery in operating conditions). Systems and methods may provide managing and monitoring for payload carried by UAV/aircraft (e.g. with instrumentation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10325393
    Abstract: A method of determining a layout for a surface covering includes receiving, with a tool system, layout data that is based on data associated with a surface to be covered with a surface covering, and providing an indication of a pattern of a plurality of covering members included in the surface covering. The layout data provides an indication of a cutting pattern for the surface covering. The cutting pattern is determined based at least in part on a minimum number of surface covering members required for a selected design of the surface covering members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Robert C. Petroski
  • Publication number: 20190147490
    Abstract: A method and for submitting third-party prior art submissions in a patent application to a patent office. The method including receiving a request from a third-party. The request identifies a target patent application. The method further includes publishing an advertisement for a prior art search relating to the target patent application. The method includes receiving an indication from a search party that the search party will perform the prior art search. The method includes receiving a first prior art document from the search party. The method includes submitting a package of documents to the patent office, wherein the package of documents includes the first prior art document and a statement of relevance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: ALISTAIR K. CHAN, ROY P. DIAZ, RODERICK A. HYDE
  • Publication number: 20190145877
    Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus includes a sensor configured to be selectively positionable within an interior head cavity of a helmet to acquire compliance data regarding a liner of the helmet and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K.Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20190135274
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an occupant monitoring system configured to acquire occupant data regarding an occupant of the vehicle; a robotic driving system configured to provide robotic control of the vehicle during a robotic driving mode; and a processing circuit coupled to the occupant monitoring system and the robotic driving system. The processing circuit is configured to: receive the occupant data; determine a vehicle operation command based on the occupant data, the vehicle operation command configured to affect operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is in the robotic driving mode; and provide the vehicle operation command to a vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Publication number: 20190108741
    Abstract: A sensing and warning system includes a sensor configured to generate data regarding at least one of a user or an object, a warning device configured to be positioned on the user, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive the data from the sensor, determine a command based on the data, and transmit the command to the warning device prior to an impact between the user and the object. The warning device is configured to implement the command to provide a warning to the user in an attempt to (i) prevent the impact or (ii) reduce a magnitude of the impact between the user and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Allen, Philip V. Bayly, David L. Brody, Alistair K. Chan, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, William D. Duncan, Richard G. Ellenbogen, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, Raul Radovitzky, Anthony V. Smith, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20190072956
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a self-propelled vehicle, method, and system. The self-propelled vehicle includes an autonomous driving system configured to dynamically determine maneuvers operating the vehicle along a route in an automated mode without continuous input from a human driver. The vehicle includes an input device configured to receive a real-time request for a specific dynamic maneuver by the vehicle operating along the route from the human driver. The vehicle includes a decision circuit configured to select a real-time dynamic maneuver by arbitrating between (i) the received real-time request for the specific dynamic maneuver from the human driver and (ii) a real-time determination relative to the specific dynamic maneuver received from the autonomous driving system. The vehicle includes an implementation circuit configured to output the selected real-time dynamic maneuver to an operations system of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: ALISTAIR K. CHAN, JESSE R. CHEATHAM, III, HON WAH CHIN, WILLIAM DAVID DUNCAN, RODERICK A. HYDE, DAVID B. TUCKERMAN, THOMAS ALLAN WEAVER
  • Patent number: 10220311
    Abstract: A method of gaming is generally described which includes detecting motions associated with the user by a feedback sensor device and providing motion information from the feedback sensor device to the game device. The method also includes providing a vestibular stimulation signal to a user, by a vestibular stimulation device in communication with a game device in response to the motion information and the game content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10184867
    Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus including a movable member, a sensor coupled to the movable member and configured to acquire compliance data regarding a liner disposed within a shell of a helmet through engagement of the sensor with the liner, and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 10181247
    Abstract: A system for predicting and warning of impacts includes a sensor located remote from a user and configured to acquire user data regarding motion of the user and object data regarding motion of the object; and a processing circuit configured to predict a potential impact between the user and the object based on the user data and the object data; and control operation of a user-wearable warning device to provide a warning output to the user in advance of a predicted time of the potential impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Allen, Philip V. Bayly, David Lozoff Brody, Alistair K. Chan, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, William David Duncan, Richard Glen Ellenbogen, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, Raul Radovitzky, Anthony Vinson Smith, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood