Patents by Inventor Bernard Chiu
Bernard Chiu 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).
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Patent number: 8469812Abstract: A fret and method of making the fret are disclosed. The fret can include a body portion made of a non-conductive material, a first end, a second end, and a length defined between the first and second ends. A plurality of electrically conductive elements can be disposed along at least part of the body portion. Each element can be electrically insulated from the other conductive elements by the body portion. The method can include 1) providing a blank formed of electrically conductive material, 2) processing the blank to provide a plurality of electrically conductive elements, 3) affixing a body portion made of a non-conductive material to the plurality of electrically conductive elements, the body portion electrically insulating each element from the other conductive elements, and 4) removing material from the processed blank and affixed body portion to form a perimeter of the fret in a desired shape.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Paul Franzosa, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, Stephen Paul Webster, David Yiu
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Patent number: 8454418Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. A plurality of frets can be disposed on a fingerboard and underlying the strings. The frets may include electrically conductive zones that can be electrically insulated from each other, and each zone corresponds to a different string. A polyphonic pickup having a plurality of wire-wound coils coupled to corresponding magnetic returns can be included, and can be adapted to detect striking of at least one of the strings by a user of the game controller. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Stephen Paul Webster, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, David Yiu
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Patent number: 8414369Abstract: A music game method includes retrieving song data having note information from a storage medium coupled to a computer system. The method also includes determining from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and determining from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. The leader provides information related to the second note indicator. A music game system includes a song manager module configured to retrieve song data having note information from a storage medium, and a user interface module configured to determine from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and to determine from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. Each note indicator is related to corresponding note information. The first and second note indicators are adjacent to one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Matthew Sughrue, Jack Davis, Mikhail Chekmarev, Mashi Hasu, Leonard Eusebi
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Patent number: 8246461Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Patent number: 8017857Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt, Gabriel J. Viani
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Publication number: 20110218022Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. A plurality of frets can be disposed on a fingerboard and underlying the strings. The frets may include electrically conductive zones that can be electrically insulated from each other, and each zone corresponds to a different string. A polyphonic pickup having a plurality of wire-wound coils coupled to corresponding magnetic returns can be included, and can be adapted to detect striking of at least one of the strings by a user of the game controller. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Stephen Paul Webster, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, David Yiu
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Publication number: 20110086705Abstract: A music game method includes retrieving song data having note information from a storage medium coupled to a computer system. The method also includes determining from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and determining from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. The leader provides information related to the second note indicator. A music game system includes a song manager module configured to retrieve song data having note information from a storage medium, and a user interface module configured to determine from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and to determine from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. Each note indicator is related to corresponding note information. The first and second note indicators are adjacent to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2009Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Matthew Sughrue, Jack Davis, Mikhail Chekmarev, Mashi Hasu, Leonard Eusebi
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Publication number: 20100279772Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Publication number: 20100234109Abstract: A fret and method of making the fret are disclosed. The fret can include a body portion made of a non-conductive material, a first end, a second end, and a length defined between the first and second ends. A plurality of electrically conductive elements can be disposed along at least part of the body portion. Each element can be electrically insulated from the other conductive elements by the body portion. The method can include 1) providing a blank formed of electrically conductive material, 2) processing the blank to provide a plurality of electrically conductive elements, 3) affixing a body portion made of a non-conductive material to the plurality of electrically conductive elements, the body portion electrically insulating each element from the other conductive elements, and 4) removing material from the processed blank and affixed body portion to form a perimeter of the fret in a desired shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, Stephen Paul Webster, David Yiu
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Publication number: 20090191932Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Publication number: 20090188371Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Patent number: 7081573Abstract: A string instrument including a body; a headstock; a neck extending between the body and the headstock; a plurality of tuning mechanisms retained by the headstock and each having a stem with a tuning end and a connection end; and a plurality of connectors each connecting a different pair of covers. Also included are a plurality of strings each having one end connected to the body and an opposite end connected to a different connection end; and a cover covering each connection end and shaped and arranged to prevent physical access to the opposite end connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: First Act Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Izen, Bernard Chiu, Craig Small
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Publication number: 20050284280Abstract: A string instrument including a body; a headstock; a neck extending between the body and the headstock; a plurality of tuning mechanisms retained by the headstock and each having a stem with a tuning end and a connection end; and a plurality of connectors each connecting a different pair of covers. Also included are a plurality of strings each having one end connected to the body and an opposite end connected to a different connection end; and a cover covering each connection end and shaped and arranged to prevent physical access to the opposite end connected thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2004Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Mark Izen, Bernard Chiu, Craig Small
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Patent number: 6156085Abstract: A portable air cleaner comprising a cylindrical filter element mounted on a circular base and encased by a cylindrical cover. A centrifugal fan mounted within the cover draws unpurified air into inlet openings disposed in the base and the side wall of the cover, and through the filter element. The resulting purified air is drawn into the centrifugal fan and forced radially outward therefrom. An air deflector dish redirects the purified air through the exhaust openings disposed on the top surface of the cylindrical cover. Such an exhaust flow which is perpendicular to and spaced from the inlet flow results in an improved efficiency in purifying the entire volume of air within a room.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1998Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products, Inc.Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Stephen Gatchell, Jui-Shang Wang
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Patent number: 6013121Abstract: This invention relates to a filter change indicator that is operable in various orientations of the device incorporating it. For example, the filter change indicator is operable when the device is positioned in either the upright or sideways position. The device incorporating the filter change indicator can be any air moving device which incorporates a cleanable or replaceable filter. The filter change indicator includes a transparent viewing window and a tubulation. The viewing window displays a visible signal when the filter needs changing. The visible signal can be a float retained in the tubulation. The tubulation is a hollow transparent tube which forms an incline plane within the housing. The tubulation includes a first end, a second end and a step. The first end is in fluid communication with an air flow path through the tubulation, and this air flow path is exposed to atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 11, 2000Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products, Inc.Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Jui-Shang Wang, Stephen Gatchell
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Patent number: 5862737Abstract: This invention relates to a filter change indicator that is operable in various orientations of the device incorporating it. For example, the filter change indicator is operable when the device is positioned in either the upright or sideways position. The device incorporating the filter change indicator can be any air moving device which incorporates a cleanable or replaceable filter. The filter change indicator includes a transparent viewing window and a tubulation. The viewing window displays a visible signal when the filter needs changing. The visible signal can be a float retained in the tubulation. The tubulation is a hollow transparent tube which forms an incline plane within the housing. The tubulation includes a first end, a second end and a step. The first end is in fluid communication with an air flow path through the tubulation, and this air flow path is exposed to atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1996Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products Inc.Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Jui-Shang Wang, Stephen Gatchell
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Patent number: D394702Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1994Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Duracraft Corp.Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Jui-Shang Wang, John Longan, Robert L. Marvin, Richard M. O'Grady
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Patent number: D395703Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products, Inc.Inventors: Rodney Jane, Andrew Parker, Robert Marvin, Richard O'Grady, Brian Graves, Bernard Chiu, Diane Allen
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Patent number: D397192Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1995Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products, Inc.Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Jui-Shang Wang
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Patent number: D397775Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1994Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products, Inc.Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Jui-Shang Wang, Stanley Gresens