Patents by Inventor Blair WILLIAMS

Blair WILLIAMS 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: 11947348
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) controller may have control elements configured to receive inputs from a user. A cover may be coupled to the controller. The cover may be movable between a closed position in which the control elements are covered and an open position in which the control elements are exposed. An antenna may be integrated in the cover. The antenna may be electrically connected to circuitry in the controller for communicating with a UAV. In some implementations, a conductive plane and/or an insulating plane may be integrated in the cover. In some implementations, a heatsink, a fan, and/or a support mechanism may be arranged on an under portion of the controller. In some implementations, a circuit board including a cutout may be arranged inside the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Scott Thompson, Christopher Brian Grasberger, Patrick Allen Lowe, Asher Mendel Robbins-Rothman, Yevgeniy Kozlenko, Logan Sweet, Blair Williams, Joseph Anthony Enke
  • Publication number: 20230356721
    Abstract: A personalization system for a vehicle includes an image-capture device configured to capture a plurality of images of one or more occupants in the vehicle and control circuitry configured to estimate a plurality of Z-heights of a plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants from a reference position in the vehicle, based on the plurality of images captured from the image-capture device, determine an associative relationship between the plurality of Z-heights of the plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle and a plurality of in-vehicle systems, based on defined user-preferences, and control the plurality of in-vehicle systems to direct an output from a corresponding in-vehicle system to a specific body portion of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle, based on the estimated plurality of Z-heights and the determined associative relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Adnan Esmail
  • Publication number: 20230110523
    Abstract: A personalization system for a vehicle includes an image-capture device configured to capture a plurality of images of one or more occupants in the vehicle and control circuitry configured to estimate a plurality of Z-heights of a plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants from a reference position in the vehicle, based on the plurality of images captured from the image-capture device, determine an associative relationship between the plurality of Z-heights of the plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle and a plurality of in-vehicle systems, based on defined user-preferences, and control the plurality of in-vehicle systems to direct an output from a corresponding in-vehicle system to a specific body portion of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle, based on the estimated plurality of Z-heights and the determined associative relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Adnan Esmail
  • Publication number: 20220326705
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) controller may have control elements configured to receive inputs from a user. A cover may be coupled to the controller. The cover may be movable between a closed position in which the control elements are covered and an open position in which the control elements are exposed. An antenna may be integrated in the cover. The antenna may be electrically connected to circuitry in the controller for communicating with a UAV. In some implementations, a conductive plane and/or an insulating plane may be integrated in the cover. In some implementations, a heatsink, a fan, and/or a support mechanism may be arranged on an under portion of the controller. In some implementations, a circuit board including a cutout may be arranged inside the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin Scott Thompson, Christopher Brian Grasberger, Patrick Allen Lowe, Asher Mendel Robbins-Rothman, Yevgeniy Kozlenko, Logan Sweet, Blair Williams, Joseph Anthony Enke
  • Patent number: 11465631
    Abstract: A personalization system for a vehicle includes an image-capture device configured to capture a plurality of images of one or more occupants in the vehicle and control circuitry configured to estimate a plurality of Z-heights of a plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants from a reference position in the vehicle, based on the plurality of images captured from the image-capture device, determine an associative relationship between the plurality of Z-heights of the plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle and a plurality of in-vehicle systems, based on defined user-preferences, and control the plurality of in-vehicle systems to direct an output from a corresponding in-vehicle system to a specific body portion of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle, based on the estimated plurality of Z-heights and the determined associative relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Adnan Esmail
  • Patent number: 11465704
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wireless remote control or remote control application for controlling the lighting of an electronic personal transportation vehicle. Embodiments can solve problems related to sharing electronic personal transportation vehicles by uniquely identifying a user, and allowing that user to control the lighting of the electronic personal transportation vehicle. In this manner, other users can control the lighting at different times, depending on the specific person that is using the electronic personal transportation vehicle at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Hillman, Blair Williams, Paul Jackson, Matthew J. Cheung, Angus Peart, Chris Rieger, John Ulmen, Brennan Vandenhoek, Peng Peng, Levi Price
  • Publication number: 20220277458
    Abstract: Various embodiments contemplate systems, architectures and methods for extracting and selecting headshots of human or non-human entities from catalogs of images of such subjects. The methods described may find and extract faces from within groups of subjects, verify that the extracted faces correspond to the desired subject, determine cropping or masking regions, or both, of rectangular, circular, elliptical or some other geometry to provide an easily recognized image of the desired subject, expand the output image by synthesizing pixels as may be needed for a desired cropping or masking region, select preferred images among a collection of images of the desired subject, and perform other useful functions. The resulting output images may be in either direct form, reference form or both forms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: James Henry NEALAND, Blair William Thomas FIDLER
  • Publication number: 20210107582
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wireless remote control or remote control application for controlling the lighting of an electronic personal transportation vehicle. Embodiments can solve problems related to sharing electronic personal transportation vehicles by uniquely identifying a user, and allowing that user to control the lighting of the electronic personal transportation vehicle. In this manner, other users can control the lighting at different times, depending on the specific person that is using the electronic personal transportation vehicle at any given time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. HILLMAN, Blair WILLIAMS, Paul JACKSON, Matthew J. CHEUNG, Angus PEART, Chris RIEGER, John ULMEN, Brennan VANDENHOEK, Peng PENG, Levi PRICE
  • Publication number: 20190176837
    Abstract: A personalization system for a vehicle includes an image-capture device configured to capture a plurality of images of one or more occupants in the vehicle and control circuitry configured to estimate a plurality of Z-heights of a plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants from a reference position in the vehicle, based on the plurality of images captured from the image-capture device, determine an associative relationship between the plurality of Z-heights of the plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle and a plurality of in-vehicle systems, based on defined user-preferences, and control the plurality of in-vehicle systems to direct an output from a corresponding in-vehicle system to a specific body portion of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle, based on the estimated plurality of Z-heights and the determined associative relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Adnan Esmail
  • Patent number: 9878659
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a detection system and a light indicator. The detection system is configured to sense an external moving object. The light indicator includes a first on mode and second on mode, and being disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle in a direction of the external moving object detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 9868389
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a detection system and a text display. The detection system is configured to sense an external moving object. The text display is disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle in a forward direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 9694736
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a light indicator and a controller. The light indicator includes a first on mode and second on mode, and is disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle at least in a forward direction of the vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine whether the vehicle intends to enter the first state or the second state, and to activate the first on mode while the vehicle intends to enter the first state and the second on mode while vehicle intends to enter the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Melissa Cefkin
  • Publication number: 20170088040
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a detection system and a text display. The detection system is configured to sense an external moving object. The text display is disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle in a forward direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Blair WILLIAMS, Melissa CEFKIN
  • Publication number: 20170088035
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a light indicator and a controller. The light indicator includes a first on mode and second on mode, and is disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle at least in a forward direction of the vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine whether the vehicle intends to enter the first state or the second state, and to activate the first on mode while the vehicle intends to enter the first state and the second on mode while vehicle intends to enter the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Blair WILLIAMS, Melissa CEFKIN
  • Publication number: 20170088039
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a detection system and a light indicator. The detection system is configured to sense an external moving object. The light indicator includes a first on mode and second on mode, and being disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle in a direction of the external moving object detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Blair WILLIAMS, Melissa CEFKIN
  • Publication number: 20160275523
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques to optimize, from a merchant's perspective, the outcomes of interactions between the merchant and its customers (whether existing, new, or potential customers). In an aspect, certain embodiments allow for multiple variations of options (multivariate or A/B testing) and outcomes which can be statistically applied and then measured and analyzed for best economic impact or preferred outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Blair William McNea, Colin Campbell, Steven Vanderburg
  • Patent number: 9378505
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques to optimize, from a merchant's perspective, the outcomes of interactions between the merchant and its customers (whether existing, new, or potential customers). In an aspect, certain embodiments allow for multiple variations of options (multivariate or A/B testing) and outcomes which can be statistically applied and then measured and analyzed for best economic impact or preferred outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: RevGuard, LLC
    Inventors: Blair William McNea, Colin Campbell, Steven Vanderburg
  • Patent number: 9009095
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a probability of changing from one state to another in a stochastic entity, comprising: determining the compact component matrix utilizing characteristic information of the stochastic entity; determining the compact composite component matrix by taking a Kroneker product of the compact component matrix and an identity matrix; determining and placing all current states for the stochastic entity into a state space matrix; determining a Q matrix and/or a transition rate matrix using the compact composite component matrix and basic conditions or variables of the problem domain and/or a compact transition rate matrix; and performing Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation using information from the state space matrix and information from the transition rate matrix to determine the probability of changing from one state to another state in the stochastic entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: George Mason University
    Inventors: Mohsin Saleet Fafri, Tuan Minh Hoang-Trong, George Stuart Blair Williams
  • Publication number: 20120022938
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques to optimize, from a merchant's perspective, the outcomes of interactions between the merchant and its customers (whether existing, new, or potential customers). In an aspect, certain embodiments allow for multiple variations of options (multivariate or A/B testing) and outcomes which can be statistically applied and then measured and analyzed for best economic impact or preferred outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: REVGUARD, LLC
    Inventors: Blair William McNea, Colin Campbell, Steven Vanderburg