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).

  • Publication number: 20090108649
    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: 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: 20090109223
    Abstract: A system for displaying at least one virtual future journey 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 virtual future journey. The system further includes a journey futuring control module that generates the journey data that includes at least one future journey for the passenger. The future journey is selected from the group that includes a journey from the mobile platform to a baggage claim, a journey from the baggage claim to a transportation means, a journey via the transportation means to a destination, and combinations thereof. The system further includes a graphical user interface control module that displays the future journey for the passenger on the display device to enable the passenger to virtually view the future journey.
    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