Patents by Inventor Charles Gritton

Charles Gritton 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: 20250110022
    Abstract: Example embodiments include an apparatus and a method for monitoring a dwelling or set of dwellings using at least one sensor node. In some embodiments, a sensor node collects both audio data and non-audio data and detects at least one event or condition based at least in part on the audio data and the non-audio data. In other embodiments, audio data or non-audio data is used on its own or in other combinations. Processing may be performed to detect the presence of events, or changes in the frequency or duration of events, that may indicate a need for corrective action or preventative maintenance. Monitoring may apply to systems such as HVAC, electrical, structural, and plumbing, among others. Maintenance recommendations and monitoring parameters may by communicated to a user (e.g. to a resident, a property manager, a customer, or a designated service or maintenance person) over a networked service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Simpkins, Charles Gritton, Thad Scheer, John Christopher Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20250109872
    Abstract: Example embodiments include an apparatus and a method for monitoring and reporting on HVAC performance. In an example method, an HVAC system is monitored to detect a plurality of sample intervals during which the HVAC system is active. The plurality of sample intervals may be, for example, a plurality of heating intervals and/or a plurality of cooling intervals. An ambient temperature or other environmental parameter is monitored to determine a change over each of the sample intervals. A sample value is determined for each of the sample intervals, each sample value representing a ratio between a duration of the interval and the temperature change over the course of the respective period. Statistics of the sample values are evaluated and may be used to identify changes in HVAC performance. Analogous methods preformed for periods of HVAC inactivity may be used to detect changes in heat retention performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Charles Gritton, Darryl Harlan Ngai, Sami Kanderian, Daniel Simpkins, Ali Taha, Wilmer Jacob Zwietering, Edwin Laurence Booth
  • Publication number: 20230243706
    Abstract: Example embodiments include an apparatus comprising a first printed circuit board (PCB) having an AC-DC power supply thereon and a second PCB having a processor thereon. The first and second BPBs are substantially parallel to one another. A first thermal barrier extends between the first and second PCB. The processor and the power supply are both on a first side of the first thermal barrier. A chamber on a second side of the first thermal barrier opposite the first side. The chamber is at least partly enclosed by a second thermal barrier and has at least one opening for fluid communication with an ambient environment. A temperature sensor is provided in the chamber. In some embodiments, an LED is provided on one of the PCBs, and a light-reflecting silkscreened pattern is provided on the PCB near the LED to increase light output of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Simpkins, Charles Gritton, Darryl Harlan Ngai, Friedrich G. Geck, Cynthia E. Cantrell
  • Publication number: 20180203878
    Abstract: Devices, computer readable medium, and methods for selecting an object displayed on a screen and providing information about that object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Gritton, Daniel Simpkins, Tom Morgan
  • Patent number: 9946731
    Abstract: Devices, computer readable medium, and methods for selecting an object displayed on a screen and providing information about that object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: IDHL Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Gritton, Daniel Simpkins, Tom Morgan
  • Publication number: 20150178316
    Abstract: Devices, computer readable medium, and methods for selecting an object displayed on a screen and providing information about that object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Charles GRITTON, Daniel SIMPKINS, Tom MORGAN
  • Patent number: 9007396
    Abstract: Devices, computer readable medium, and methods for selecting an object displayed on a screen and providing information about that object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Gritton, Daniel Simpkins, Tom Morgan
  • Publication number: 20110216087
    Abstract: Devices, computer readable medium, and methods for selecting an object displayed on a screen and providing information about that object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: HILLCREST LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Gritton, Daniel Simpkins, Tom Morgan
  • Publication number: 20080002669
    Abstract: The methods and apparatus of the present invention can be used to provide a high quality of service across a network that includes packet-based technology. Use of the present invention can yield networks that are more efficient, more resilient and more reliable than prior networks, thus allowing service providers to provide voice and other high quality services through the use of packet networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Ray O'Brien, Robert Roden, Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20070252813
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a desired output, e.g., cursor movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Liberty, Daniel Simpkins, Charles Gritton, Mark Turner, Frank Hunleth
  • Publication number: 20070247425
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses hand tremor as an input. One or more sensors within the handheld device detect a user's hand tremor and identify the user based on the detected tremor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Liberty, Christopher Roller, Daniel Simpkins, Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20070199022
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a user interface including an electronic program guide and scrollable visual directories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Negar Moshiri, Frank Wroblewski, Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20070192739
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention leverage programming language extensions, e.g., for SVG, to create zoomable user interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Hunleth, Stephen Scheirey, Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20070192794
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide techniques for associating advertisements with relevant content on a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Curtis, Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20070113207
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention provide the ability for a system to realize when a handheld device is performing a gesture and to execute the associated command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20070035518
    Abstract: A remote control device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, has a ring-shaped or arcuate-shaped housing and at least one sensor mounted within the housing for sensing movement of said remote control device. The housing is adapted to promote a user's arm, hand and wrist to be substantially in a neutral position when the user is holding the remote control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Francz, Daniel Simpkins, Frank Wroblewski, Friedrich Geck, Negar Moshiri, Charles Gritton, Arvind Gupta
  • Publication number: 20060184966
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a control framework for organizing, selecting and launching media items including graphical user interfaces coupled with an optional 3D control device for collection of the basic control primitives of point, click, scroll, hover and zoom which permit for easy and rapid selection of media items, e.g., movies, songs etc., from large or small collections. The remote control maps natural hand movements and gestures into relevant commands while the graphical display uses images, zooming for increased/decreased levels of detail and continuity of GUI objects to provide easy organization, selection and navigation among the media items by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Hunleth, Negar Moshiri, William Napier, Daniel Simpkins, Frank Wroblewski, Kevin Conroy, Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20060176403
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention provide software constructs (bricks) usable to create zoomable user interfaces. Bricks provide for parameterized variation of graphical displays, are reusuable and cascade across different scenes in the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Gritton, Dave Aufderheide, Kevin Conroy, Neel Goyal, Frank Hunleth, Stephen Scheirey, Daniel Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20060130013
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving the security of devices to prevent unauthorized access to designs and software code are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Hillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Arno Penzias, Charles Gritton
  • Publication number: 20060098808
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a received voice signal from a variable-delay network by a communications system that has at least one echo canceller. An echo canceller determines delay characteristics that are associated with the received voice signal and correspondingly modifies echo cancellation processing. In a variation of the embodiment of the invention, a first echo canceller sends silence descriptor information to a second echo canceller. The second echo canceller reconstructs a voice signal based upon the silence descriptor information and excitation vector information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marchok, Richard Younce, Charles Gritton, Ravi Chandran