Patents by Inventor Buddy L. Sharpe

Buddy L. Sharpe 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: 10372231
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided that includes a passenger service unit for a passenger seated in a seat in its cabin. The aircraft includes a camera configured to acquire an image of the passenger, and a control module configured to at least receive the image of the passenger. The control module is configured to receive non-tactile gesture preference data and dominant hand data, and access a non-tactile gesture data store that includes a plurality of images of non-tactile hand signals or non-tactile hand gestures. Based on the foregoing, the control module is configured to generate non-tactile gesture data in accordance with and indicative of a non-tactile hand signal or a non-tactile gesture made by the passenger. And the control module is configured to control one or more cabin systems including in at least one instance the passenger service unit based on the non-tactile gesture data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
  • Publication number: 20190073043
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided that includes a passenger service unit for a passenger seated in a seat in its cabin. The aircraft includes a camera configured to acquire an image of the passenger, and a control module configured to at least receive the image of the passenger. The control module is configured to receive non-tactile gesture preference data and dominant hand data, and access a non-tactile gesture data store that includes a plurality of images of non-tactile hand signals or non-tactile hand gestures. Based on the foregoing, the control module is configured to generate non-tactile gesture data in accordance with and indicative of a non-tactile hand signal or a non-tactile gesture made by the passenger. And the control module is configured to control one or more cabin systems including in at least one instance the passenger service unit based on the non-tactile gesture data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
  • Patent number: 10146320
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided that includes a passenger service unit for a passenger seated in a seat in its cabin. The aircraft includes a camera configured to acquire an image of the passenger, and a control module configured to at least receive the image of the passenger. The control module is configured to receive non-tactile gesture preference data and dominant hand data, and access a non-tactile gesture data store that includes a plurality of images of non-tactile hand signals or non-tactile hand gestures. Based on the foregoing, the control module is configured to generate non-tactile gesture data in accordance with and indicative of a non-tactile hand signal or a non-tactile gesture made by the passenger. And the control module is configured to control one or more cabin systems including in at least one instance the passenger service unit based on the non-tactile gesture data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
  • Publication number: 20180136733
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided that includes a passenger service unit for a passenger seated in a seat in its cabin. The aircraft includes a camera configured to acquire an image of the passenger, and a control module configured to at least receive the image of the passenger. The control module is configured to receive non-tactile gesture preference data and dominant hand data, and access a non-tactile gesture data store that includes a plurality of images of non-tactile hand signals or non-tactile hand gestures. Based on the foregoing, the control module is configured to generate non-tactile gesture data in accordance with and indicative of a non-tactile hand signal or a non-tactile gesture made by the passenger. And the control module is configured to control one or more cabin systems including in at least one instance the passenger service unit based on the non-tactile gesture data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
  • Patent number: 8554422
    Abstract: A system for anticipating the needs of at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform is provided. A passenger seating area for receipt of the passenger includes a seat that has a seat back that moves into a reclined position, a tray table that is operable to be positioned to provide a surface for use by the at least one passenger, and a light source disposed for illumination of at least a portion of the passenger seating area. A camera acquires an image of the passenger, and a gesture control module generates activity data that includes at least one activity that the passenger is performing as recognized in the image of the at least one passenger acquired by the camera. A smart control module moves the seat back, positions the tray table, activates or deactivates the light source and performs combinations thereof based on the activity data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla
  • Patent number: 8543259
    Abstract: A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes a display device that displays the information. The system also includes a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information. The information includes at least galley information. The system further includes a galley control module that generates galley data that includes at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform, and a graphical user interface module that displays the at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the at least one food service item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
  • Patent number: 8528861
    Abstract: A seating system may comprise a first seat, a second seat, and a plurality of armrests. The plurality of armrests may be located between the first seat and the second seat. The plurality of armrests may be capable of being deployed to change a seating space for the first seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Shawn A. Claflin, Buddy L. Sharpe, Mark Edward Wentland
  • Publication number: 20120299346
    Abstract: A seating system may comprise a first seat, a second seat, and a plurality of armrests. The plurality of armrests may be located between the first seat and the second seat. The plurality of armrests may be capable of being deployed to change a seating space for the first seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Shawn A. Claflin, Buddy L. Sharpe, Mark Edward Wentland
  • Patent number: 8186760
    Abstract: A seating system may comprise a first seat, a second seat, and a plurality of armrests. The plurality of armrests may be located between the first seat and the second seat. The plurality of armrests may be capable of being deployed to change a seating space for the first seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Shawn A. Claflin, Buddy L. Sharpe, Mark Edward Wentland
  • Patent number: 7936285
    Abstract: An aircraft communications system is located on an aircraft. The aircraft communications system comprises a set of eyewear units, an aircraft data processing system, and a wireless system. Each eyewear unit has a set of sensors and a display. The set of eyewear units is capable of receiving user input and is capable of presenting information to a set of users of the set of eyewear units. The aircraft data processing system is capable of receiving the user input and sending the information to the set of eyewear units in response to receiving the user input from the set of eyewear units. The wireless system is located proximate to the cabin of the aircraft and is capable of sending the user input from the set of eyewear units to the aircraft data processing system and sending the information to the set of eyewear units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi Joy Kneller, Calsee Nicole Robb, William Anthony Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla
  • Publication number: 20110068227
    Abstract: A system for anticipating the needs of at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform is provided. A passenger seating area for receipt of the passenger includes a seat that has a seat back that moves into a reclined position, a tray table that is operable to be positioned to provide a surface for use by the at least one passenger, and a light source disposed for illumination of at least a portion of the passenger seating area. A camera acquires an image of the passenger, and a gesture control module generates activity data that includes at least one activity that the passenger is performing as recognized in the image of the at least one passenger acquired by the camera. A smart control module moves the seat back, positions the tray table, activates or deactivates the light source and performs combinations thereof based on the activity data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla
  • Patent number: 7878586
    Abstract: A system for anticipating the needs of at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes a passenger seating area for receipt of the passenger. The passenger seating area includes a seat that has a seat back that moves into a reclined position, a tray table that is operable to be positioned to provide a surface for use by the at least one passenger, and a light source disposed for illumination of at least a portion of the passenger seating area. The system includes a camera that acquires an image of the passenger, and a gesture control module that generates activity data that includes at least one activity that the passenger is performing as recognized in the image of the at least one passenger acquired by the camera. The system further includes a smart control module that moves the seat back, positions the tray table, activates or deactivates the light source and performs combinations thereof based on the activity data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla
  • Patent number: 7774105
    Abstract: A system for an interior annunciator onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes at least one speaker onboard the mobile platform. The system also includes a flight management control module that generates flight management data that indicates at least one status of an operation of the mobile platform. The system further includes an auditory control module that generates nonverbal auditory data based on the at least one status of the operation of the mobile platform. The nonverbal auditory data is broadcast by the at least one speaker to communicate the at least one status of the operation of the mobile platform to at least one passenger onboard the mobile platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Calsee N. Robb, Heidi J. Kneller, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla, Bethany L. Franko, Kwun-Wing W. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20100109413
    Abstract: A seating system may comprise a first seat, a second seat, and a plurality of armrests. The plurality of armrests may be located between the first seat and the second seat. The plurality of armrests may be capable of being deployed to change a seating space for the first seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Shawn A. Claflin, Buddy L. Sharpe, Mark Edward Wentland
  • Publication number: 20090319902
    Abstract: An aircraft communications system is located on an aircraft. The aircraft communications system comprises a set of eyewear units, an aircraft data processing system, and a wireless system. Each eyewear unit has a set of sensors and a display. The set of eyewear units is capable of receiving user input and is capable of presenting information to a set of users of the set of eyewear units. The aircraft data processing system is capable of receiving the user input and sending the information to the set of eyewear units in response to receiving the user input from the set of eyewear units. The wireless system is located proximate to the cabin of the aircraft and is capable of sending the user input from the set of eyewear units to the aircraft data processing system and sending the information to the set of eyewear units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Heidi Joy Kneller, Calsee Nicole Robb, William Anthony Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla
  • Publication number: 20090112638
    Abstract: A system for virtually queuing at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform is provided. The system includes a source of user input that enables the at least one passenger to request to be placed in a virtual line. The system also includes a queuing control module that generates queue data that includes at least one next passenger in the virtual line from a list of the at least one passenger requested to be placed in the virtual line. The system further includes a notification control module that notifies the at least one next passenger that the at least one passenger is next in the virtual line based on an operating condition associated with the mobile platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla
  • Publication number: 20090112407
    Abstract: A system for communicating with passengers onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) using at least one structure onboard the mobile platform is provided. The system includes at least one seat for receipt of the at least one passenger. The seat includes a seatbelt that is operable to be fastened to retain the at least one passenger in the seat. The system also includes at least one source of data regarding a status of the mobile platform, and a structure control module that generates communication data for at least the seatbelt based on the status of the mobile platform. The communication data may be operable to communicate to the at least one passenger by the seatbelt that the seatbelt is to be fastened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla
  • Publication number: 20090109036
    Abstract: A system for alternative communication between at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) and at least one system onboard the mobile platform is provided. The system includes a camera that acquires an image of the at least one passenger, and a camera control module that generates gesture data that includes at least one gesture recognized in the acquired image of the at least one passenger. The system also includes an activation control module that determines a function for the at least one system onboard the mobile platform to perform based on the gesture data. The function is selected from the group comprising: activation of a light, notification of a crew member of the mobile platform, activation of a ventilation fan, activation of a window shade, activation of an entertainment system and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
  • Publication number: 20090112377
    Abstract: A system for providing information to at least one passenger onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes a display device that displays the information. The system also includes a source of user input coupled to the display device that enables the at least one passenger to request the information. The information includes at least galley information. The system further includes a galley control module that generates galley data that includes at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform, and a graphical user interface module that displays the at least one food service item available onboard the mobile platform to enable the at least one passenger to select at least one of the at least one food service item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James P. Schalla, Calsee N. Robb, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, Heidi J. Kneller
  • Publication number: 20090112378
    Abstract: A system for an interior annunciator onboard a mobile platform (such as a train, marine vessel, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes at least one speaker onboard the mobile platform. The system also includes a flight management control module that generates flight management data that indicates at least one status of an operation of the mobile platform. The system further includes an auditory control module that generates nonverbal auditory data based on the at least one status of the operation of the mobile platform. The nonverbal auditory data is broadcast by the at least one speaker to communicate the at least one status of the operation of the mobile platform to at least one passenger onboard the mobile platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Calsee N. Robb, Heidi J. Kneller, William A. Harkness, Buddy L. Sharpe, James P. Schalla, Bethany L. Franko, Kwun-Wing W. Cheung