Patents by Inventor Brian Kimball

Brian Kimball 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: 11951878
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, each seat having an adjustable seat base and an adjustable seat back, a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet within the cabin interior, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the pet based on the monitored signals, the controller further controlling at least one of the adjustable seat base and adjustable seat back of a seat based on the determined location of the pet so that the seat is configured to accommodate the pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, David Brian Glickman, Gregory Paul Thomas, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 11932156
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior and comprising a front row of seats and a rear row of seats, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, and a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet or passenger within the cabin interior. The vehicle also includes a movable center console positioned between a pair of the forward row of seats and forward of the rear row of seats and comprising a holder for holding a drink container, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the detected pet or passenger on the rear row of seats based on the processed signals, the controller further controlling the movable console between a forward first position and a rearward second position closer to the rear row of seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, David Brian Glickman, Gregory Paul Thomas, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20220385077
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for supplying power to a medical device employ serially-connectable portable batteries. A method of supplying electrical power to a medical device includes discharging a first external battery to output electrical power to a second external battery. Distribution of the electrical power received by the second external battery is controlled to simultaneously charge the second external battery and output electrical power from the second external battery to supply electrical power to the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kimball, Joseph C. Stark, III, Peter Thatcher, John Freddy Hansen, Peter Andriola, Carine Hoarau, Jaime Arturo Romero, Jesse Gage
  • Patent number: 11439806
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for supplying power to a medical device employ serially-connectable portable batteries. A method of supplying electrical power to a medical device includes discharging a first external battery to output electrical power to a second external battery. Distribution of the electrical power received by the second external battery is controlled to simultaneously charge the second external battery and output electrical power from the second external battery to supply electrical power to the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kimball, Joseph C. Stark, III, Peter Thatcher, John Freddy Hansen, Peter Andriola, Carine Hoarau, Jaime Arturo Romero, Jesse Gage
  • Patent number: 11366253
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems allowing electronically pointing and focusing light at different focal planes. The system can be incorporated into a variety of optical schemes for providing electrical control of transmission. In another embodiment, the system comprises diffractive waveplates of different functionality to provide a system for controlling not only focusing but other propagation properties of light including direction, phase profile, and intensity distribution. The diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems are applicable to optical communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co., U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, Olena Uskova, David E. Roberts, Anna Tabirian, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Patent number: 11119257
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating optical lenses and mirrors, systems and composite structures based on diffractive waveplates, and fields of application of said lenses and mirrors that include imaging systems, astronomy, displays, polarizers, optical communication and other areas of laser and photonics technology. Diffractive lenses and mirrors of shorter focal length and larger size, with more closely spaced grating lines, and with more exacting tolerances on the optical characteristics, can be fabricated than could be fabricated by previous methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignees: Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co, U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, David E. Roberts, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Patent number: 10887410
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for notifying existing users when a new user joins a messaging service (or returns from a period of inactivity). A top n number of existing users acquainted with the new user may be selected and may be encouraged to message the new user. The existing users may be selected using a messaging coefficient that indicates a likelihood that a message will result in a meaningful conversation, and a number of other factors that prevent the existing users from becoming inundated with notifications. The number n may be selected based on an amount of display space available to the new user in a messaging application. When inviting the existing users to contact the new user, a new thread may be automatically created and bumped to the top of the new user's thread list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Akhil Nambiar, Kunal Nikhil Modi, Brian Kimball
  • Publication number: 20200345913
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for supplying power to a medical device employ serially-connectable portable batteries. A method of supplying electrical power to a medical device includes discharging a first external battery to output electrical power to a second external battery. Distribution of the electrical power received by the second external battery is controlled to simultaneously charge the second external battery and output electrical power from the second external battery to supply electrical power to the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kimball, Joseph C. Stark, III, Peter Thatcher, John Freddy Hansen, Peter Andriola, Carine Hoarau, Jaime Arturu Romero, Jesse Gage
  • Patent number: 10802302
    Abstract: The invention provides for lenses fabricated as planar thin film coatings with continuous structure. The lensing action is due to optical axis orientation modulation in the plane of the lens. The lenses of the current invention are fabricated using photoalignment of a liquid crystal polymer wherein the polarization pattern of radiation used for photoalignment is obtained by propagating the light through an optical system comprising a shape-variant nonlinear spatial light polarization modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co., The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Nelson Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Patent number: 10722633
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for supplying power to a medical device employ self-charging serially-connectable portable batteries. A system includes a base module and external battery modules. The base module is operatively coupled with the medical device and includes a base module input connector. Each of the external battery modules includes one or more battery cells, an output connector, an input connector, and a controller. The output connector is configured to output electrical power from the external battery module. The input connector is configured to receive electrical power from another of the plurality of external battery modules. The controller is operatively coupled with the one or more battery cells, the output connector, and the input connector. The controller is configured to control distribution of electrical power received via the input connector to charge the one or more battery cells and/or to be output via the output connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kimball, Joseph C. Stark, III, Peter Thatcher, John Freddy Hansen, Peter Andriola, Carine Hoarau, Jaime Arturo Romero, Jesse Gage
  • Publication number: 20200150323
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems allowing electronically pointing and focusing light at different focal planes. The system can be incorporated into a variety of optical schemes for providing electrical control of transmission. In another embodiment, the system comprises diffractive waveplates of different functionality to provide a system for controlling not only focusing but other propagation properties of light including direction, phase profile, and intensity distribution. The diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems are applicable to optical communication systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, Olena Uskova, David E. Roberts, Anna Tabirian, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Patent number: 10606848
    Abstract: Techniques for device configuration using messaging history information are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a contact list component operative to determine a promotion contact list for the user account; a predicted interest component operative to determine a predicted communication interest for each contact on a promotion contact list; a predicted activity component operative to determine a user predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system; determine a contact predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system for each contact; and a contact ranking component operative to determine the ranking weight for each contact based on the predicted communication interest for each contact on the promotion contact list, the user predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system, and the contact predicted likelihood of future activeness on the communication system for each contact on the promotion contact list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Kimball, Kunal Nikhil Modi, Jonathan David Perlow, Peter Henry Martinazzi, Ariel Benjamin Evnine
  • Patent number: 10557977
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems allowing electronically focusing light at different focal planes. The system can be incorporated into a variety of optical schemes for providing electrical control of transmission. In another embodiment, the system comprises diffractive waveplates of different functionality to provide a system for controlling not only focusing but other propagation properties of light including direction, phase profile, and intensity distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co., U.S. Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, Olena Uskova, David E. Roberts, Anna Tabirian, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Publication number: 20200025987
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating optical lenses and mirrors, systems and composite structures based on diffractive waveplates, and fields of application of said lenses and mirrors that include imaging systems, astronomy, displays, polarizers, optical communication and other areas of laser and photonics technology. Diffractive lenses and mirrors of shorter focal length and larger size, with more closely spaced grating lines, and with more exacting tolerances on the optical characteristics, can be fabricated than could be fabricated by previous methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, David E. Roberts, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Publication number: 20200025986
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems allowing electronically focusing light at different focal planes. The system can be incorporated into a variety of optical schemes for providing electrical control of transmission. In another embodiment, the system comprises diffractive waveplates of different functionality to provide a system for controlling not only focusing but other propagation properties of light including direction, phase profile, and intensity distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, Olena Uskova, David E. Roberts, Anna Tabirian, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Patent number: 10398819
    Abstract: An implantable blood pump includes a control unit storing patient specific settings. The control unit is configured to store patient specific settings. The patient specific settings can be used to determine a target operating speed for the blood pump and/or a target operating mode for the blood pump. The patient specific settings can include at least one of an operating mode for the pump, a set speed for the pump, a lower speed limit for the pump, a patient hematocrit value, a patient hematocrit date, a patient blood density, and a periodic log rate for event and periodic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TCI LLC
    Inventors: Denise Angwin, Brian Kimball, Christian Schade, Patrick Kopson
  • Patent number: 10388142
    Abstract: A method for outputting a combined power source alarm for an implantable blood pump includes determining a status for each of first and second power sources of the blood pump. A combined power source alarm based on the statuses of the first and second power sources is outputted. A method for generating an alarm based on fault detections in a mechanically assisted circulation system includes processing a series of fault detection indications to classify a fault as active or inactive. An alarm is generated if the fault is active for more than a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kimball, Charles Dague, W. Kevin Wu
  • Patent number: 10313292
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for notifying existing users when a new user joins a messaging service (or returns from a period of inactivity). A top n number of existing users acquainted with the new user may be selected and may be encouraged to message the new user. The existing users may be selected using a messaging coefficient that indicates a likelihood that a message will result in a meaningful conversation, and a number of other factors that prevent the existing users from becoming inundated with notifications. The number n may be selected based on an amount of display space available to the new user in a messaging application. When inviting the existing users to contact the new user, a new thread may be automatically created and bumped to the top of the new user's thread list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Akhil Nambiar, Kunal Nikhil Modi, Brian Kimball
  • Publication number: 20190113777
    Abstract: The invention provides for lenses fabricated as planar thin film coatings with continuous structure. The lensing action is due to optical axis orientation modulation in the plane of the lens. The lenses of the current invention are fabricated using photoalignment of a liquid crystal polymer wherein the polarization pattern of radiation used for photoalignment is obtained by propagating the light through an optical system comprising a shape-variant nonlinear spatial light polarization modulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Nelson Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, Diane Steeves, Brian Kimball
  • Patent number: 10207039
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for an updatable blood pump are disclosed herein. The blood pump can be part of a mechanical circulatory support system that can include a system controller and the blood pump. The blood pump can include a rotary motor and a control unit that can communicate with the system controller. The system controller can initiate the update process and can provide the update to the blood pump. Upon initiation of the update process, the control unit can stop the rotary motor. While the rotary motor is stopped, the blood pump can be updated. At the completion of the update, the rotary pump can be restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Christian Schade, Brian Kimball, Patrick Kopson