Patents by Inventor Benjamin J. Richards

Benjamin J. Richards 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: 11493791
    Abstract: A light blocking screen includes a liquid crystal array mounted to a window. The liquid crystal array has a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) pixels, each of which is selectively darkenable. A controller is operatively connected to the liquid crystal array and configured to darken a set of the LC pixels, such that the darkened set of LC pixels limits light passage through the window in one or more selected areas. The LC pixels need not limit light passage through the entire window. The controller may determine a location of a glare source relative to the window and a location of a user proximate the window, and then darken the set of the LC pixels in an area between the glare source and the user, such that the glare source is limited from shining onto the user. The screen may be incorporated into vehicles or buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Richards
  • Patent number: 11467401
    Abstract: A display or light blocking screen includes a liquid crystal (LC) array layer having a plurality of LC pixels, and a transparent LED layer having a plurality of LED pixels. A controller is operatively connected to the LC array layer and the transparent LED layer. The controller is configured to selectively trigger emission of light from a selection of the LED pixels, and to selectively darken a selection of the LC pixels that correspond directly to the selection of LED pixels. Therefore, the emitting LED pixels and the darkened LC pixels match and light is emitted from the LED pixels in substantially the opposite direction of the LC array layer. The display screen, or different aspects thereof, may be operatively incorporated into one or more windows of a vehicle, may be a standalone unit, or may be incorporated into a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Richards
  • Publication number: 20220283458
    Abstract: A light blocking screen includes a liquid crystal array mounted to a window. The liquid crystal array has a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) pixels, each of which is selectively darkenable. A controller is operatively connected to the liquid crystal array and configured to darken a set of the LC pixels, such that the darkened set of LC pixels limits light passage through the window in one or more selected areas. The LC pixels need not limit light passage through the entire window. The controller may determine a location of a glare source relative to the window and a location of a user proximate the window, and then darken the set of the LC pixels in an area between the glare source and the user, such that the glare source is limited from shining onto the user. The screen may be incorporated into vehicles or buildings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Richards
  • Publication number: 20220279782
    Abstract: An aerosol dispensing system includes a container having a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) composition disposed therein, and an overcap assembly having an actuator and an exit orifice, the overcap assembly being coupled to the container. The pest control composition is sprayed wherein the pest control composition is sprayed at a spray rate of between about 1.8 g/s and about 2.6 g/s and at a temperature of less than ?20° C. at least 18 inches from an exit orifice of the dispensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew J. Forst, Megan L. Nakkula, Bal K. Gautam, Arvind Narayan, Richard J. Lemerond, Benjamin J. Richards
  • Publication number: 20220283432
    Abstract: A display or light blocking screen includes a liquid crystal (LC) array layer having a plurality of LC pixels, and a transparent LED layer having a plurality of LED pixels. A controller is operatively connected to the LC array layer and the transparent LED layer. The controller is configured to selectively trigger emission of light from a selection of the LED pixels, and to selectively darken a selection of the LC pixels that correspond directly to the selection of LED pixels. Therefore, the emitting LED pixels and the darkened LC pixels match and light is emitted from the LED pixels in substantially the opposite direction of the LC array layer. The display screen, or different aspects thereof, may be operatively incorporated into one or more windows of a vehicle, may be a standalone unit, or may be incorporated into a building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Richards