Patents by Inventor Brett Bleacher
Brett Bleacher 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: 9788118Abstract: Entertainment systems are provided including a plurality of spatial sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat and associated with a media player of the entertainment system. A spatial sound controller associated with the plurality of spatial sound speakers of the media player is also provided. The spatial sound controller is configured to provide simulated surround sound associated with the media player to a defined target region. The plurality of spatial sound speakers are adjusted to a position of a passenger seated in the passenger seat based on external input associated with the passenger.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: THALES AVIONICS, INC.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon
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Patent number: 9628840Abstract: A portable entertainment system for a vehicle includes a portable housing, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a rechargeable battery. The transceiver communicates through RF signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by vehicle passengers. The rechargeable battery supplies power to the transceiver, the processor, and the memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and includes entertainment content and further includes computer readable program code that causes the processor to communicate a list, of at least some of the entertainment content available in the memory, to the PEDs. A content selection message is received through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list. The selected entertainment content is communicated through the transceiver to the PED. The transceiver, the processor, and the memory are enclosed within the portable housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Andrew Philip Musgrave, David Thomas, Simon Isaac Gresham
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Patent number: 9584846Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system is disclosed that includes docking cradles that can store handheld controllers, and a management terminal. The management terminal controls an electronically controlled lock apparatus of the cradles to selectively lock the handheld controllers in a stored position within the docking cradles. The management terminal may receive and display the status of which of the docking cradles store a handheld controller, and may display at least one user selectable indicia that is touch selectable by a user to control one or more of the docking cradles to lock and unlock handheld controllers stored therein. Related inductive charging circuits, theft alert circuits, and other components of the vehicle entertainment system are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon, Charles G. Smith, Richard J. Lopez
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Patent number: 9529431Abstract: Entertainment systems are provided including directional sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat, the headrest being associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and a directional sound controller associated with the directional sound speakers of the media player. The directional sound controller is configured to direct a sound beam associated with the media player at a defined target region such that the sound beam is only audible within the defined target region and experiences less than about 20 dB of leakage outside the target region during operation of the media player. In-flight entertainment systems and related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon
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Publication number: 20160286316Abstract: Entertainment systems are provided including a plurality of spatial sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat and associated with a media player of the entertainment system. A spatial sound controller associated with the plurality of spatial sound speakers of the media player is also provided. The spatial sound controller is configured to provide simulated surround sound associated with the media player to a defined target region. The plurality of spatial sound speakers are adjusted to a position of a passenger seated in the passenger seat based on external input associated with the passenger.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon
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Publication number: 20160134920Abstract: A portable entertainment system for a vehicle includes a portable housing, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a rechargeable battery. The transceiver communicates through RF signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by vehicle passengers. The rechargeable battery supplies power to the transceiver, the processor, and the memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and includes entertainment content and further includes computer readable program code that causes the processor to communicate a list, of at least some of the entertainment content available in the memory, to the PEDs. A content selection message is received through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list. The selected entertainment content is communicated through the transceiver to the PED. The transceiver, the processor, and the memory are enclosed within the portable housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Andrew Philip Musgrave, David Thomas, Simon Isaac Gresham
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Patent number: 9247279Abstract: A portable entertainment system for a vehicle includes a portable housing, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a rechargeable battery. The transceiver communicates through RF signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by vehicle passengers. The rechargeable battery supplies power to the transceiver, the processor, and the memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and includes entertainment content and further includes computer readable program code that causes the processor to communicate a list, of at least some of the entertainment content available in the memory, to the PEDs. A content selection message is received through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list. The selected entertainment content is communicated through the transceiver to the PED. The transceiver, the processor, and the memory are enclosed within the portable housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Andrew Musgrave, David Thomas, Simon Gresham
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Patent number: 9060202Abstract: A controller is disclosed that controls an entertainment system which includes a video display unit that is separate from the controller. The controller includes a network interface, a display device, and a processing device. The network interface communicates with the video display unit via at least one data network. The processing device communicates a first command over the at least one data network to control a display of first content on the video display unit, and controls a display of second content on the display device of the controller. The second content is displayed concurrently with the first content. Related entertainment systems are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Christopher K. Mondragon, Brett Bleacher, John J. Daly, David Pook
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Publication number: 20150150061Abstract: A portable entertainment system for a vehicle includes a portable housing, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a rechargeable battery. The transceiver communicates through RF signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by vehicle passengers. The rechargeable battery supplies power to the transceiver, the processor, and the memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and includes entertainment content and further includes computer readable program code that causes the processor to communicate a list, of at least some of the entertainment content available in the memory, to the PEDs. A content selection message is received through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list. The selected entertainment content is communicated through the transceiver to the PED. The transceiver, the processor, and the memory are enclosed within the portable housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Andrew MUSGRAVE, David THOMAS, Simon GRESHAM
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Patent number: 9037354Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system is controlled responsive to gestures that are formed by a passenger of the vehicle. The vehicle entertainment system includes a display device, at least one gesture control camera, and a processor. The gesture control camera generates a camera signal responsive to light reflected from at least one object within a field of view of the at least one gesture control camera. The processor analyzes the camera signal to identify a gesture made by a passenger moving the at least one object, and controls at least one operation of the vehicle entertainment system responsive to the identified gesture.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Christopher K. Mondragon, Brett Bleacher, William W. Allen, David Reichert
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Publication number: 20150049887Abstract: Entertainment systems are provided including directional sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat, the headrest being associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and a directional sound controller associated with the directional sound speakers of the media player. The directional sound controller is configured to direct a sound beam associated with the media player at a defined target region such that the sound beam is only audible within the defined target region and experiences less than about 20 dB of leakage outside the target region during operation of the media player. In-flight entertainment systems and related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon
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Patent number: 8928585Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes a video display unit facing a user seat. The video display unit includes a display surface that displays images to a user who is seated on the user seat. A light emitter illuminates eyes of the user. A camera outputs a video signal containing reflections from the illuminated eyes. A processor processes the video signal to determine a viewing location on the display surface at which the eyes are directed, and controls at least one function for how images are displayed on the display surface responsive to the determined viewing location.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Christopher K. Mondragon, Brett Bleacher
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Patent number: 8879760Abstract: Entertainment systems are provided including directional sound speakers associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and a directional sound controller associated with the directional sound speakers of the media player. The directional sound controller is configured to direct a sound beam associated with the media player at a defined target region such that the sound beam is only audible within the defined target region and experiences less than about 20 dB of leakage outside the target region during operation of the media player. In-flight entertainment systems and related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon
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Publication number: 20140064524Abstract: Entertainment systems are provided including directional sound speakers associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and a directional sound controller associated with the directional sound speakers of the media player. The directional sound controller is configured to direct a sound beam associated with the media player at a defined target region such that the sound beam is only audible within the defined target region and experiences less than about 20 dB of leakage outside the target region during operation of the media player. In-flight entertainment systems and related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon
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Publication number: 20140053185Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system is disclosed that includes docking cradles that can store handheld controllers, and a management terminal. The management terminal controls an electronically controlled lock apparatus of the cradles to selectively lock the handheld controllers in a stored position within the docking cradles. The management terminal may receive and display the status of which of the docking cradles store a handheld controller, and may display at least one user selectable indicia that is touch selectable by a user to control one or more of the docking cradles to lock and unlock handheld controllers stored therein. Related inductive charging circuits, theft alert circuits, and other components of the vehicle entertainment system are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon, Charles G. Smith, Richard J. Lopez
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Patent number: 8605917Abstract: A hand-held passenger control unit for use by a passenger on an aircraft or any other type of vehicle is provided. The control unit may include a controller, a memory, and a display panel. The control unit may have a first and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the control unit controls its own display panel. In the second mode of operation, the control unit controls a remote video display unit that is disposed proximate to the passenger. The control unit may also have an integrated audio player, thereby permitting passengers to bring their own audio content aboard the aircraft without having to bring their own audio players.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Thales Avionics, Inc.Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Mark Thompson, Robert Kandel
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Publication number: 20130066526Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system is controlled responsive to gestures that are formed by a passenger of the vehicle. The vehicle entertainment system includes a display device, at least one gesture control camera, and a processor. The gesture control camera generates a camera signal responsive to light reflected from at least one object within a field of view of the at least one gesture control camera. The processor analyzes the camera signal to identify a gesture made by a passenger moving the at least one object, and controls at least one operation of the vehicle entertainment system responsive to the identified gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventors: Christopher K. Mondragon, Brett Bleacher, William W. Allen, David Reichert
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Publication number: 20130063340Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes a video display unit facing a user seat. The video display unit includes a display surface that displays images to a user who is seated on the user seat. A light emitter illuminates eyes of the user. A camera outputs a video signal containing reflections from the illuminated eyes. A processor processes the video signal to determine a viewing location on the display surface at which the eyes are directed, and controls at least one function for how images are displayed on the display surface responsive to the determined viewing location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventors: Christopher K. Mondragon, Brett Bleacher
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Publication number: 20120174165Abstract: A controller is disclosed that controls an entertainment system which includes a video display unit that is separate from the controller. The controller includes a network interface, a display device, and a processing device. The network interface communicates with the video display unit via at least one data network. The processing device communicates a first command over the at least one data network to control a display of first content on the video display unit, and controls a display of second content on the display device of the controller. The second content is displayed concurrently with the first content. Related entertainment systems are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Christopher K. Mondragon, Brett Bleacher, John J. Daly, David Pook
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Publication number: 20120066726Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide video display units including at least one video display monitor at least one sheet of polarized material configured to extend on a viewing surface of the at least one video display monitor. The video display unit is adapted for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system. Some video display units include a plurality of video display monitors. Related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: Christopher K. Mondragon, Stuart Dunleavy, Brett Bleacher