Patents by Inventor Charles Robert Watson

Charles Robert Watson 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: 20220326829
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 11361011
    Abstract: The disclosed techniques relate to improving sensor data collection/reporting at an automatic replenishment device (ARD). For example, sensor data associated with the item stored at an ARD may be collected. The ARD can calculate a change in the amount of the item stored by the ARD from the sensor data. If the change is over a reporting threshold, the sensor data (or the amount of change) may be transmitted to a back-end system. Reporting may not occur if additional sensor data (e.g., accelerometer data and/or images captured at the ARD) is not commensurate with a user interaction. If the difference is under the reporting threshold or unlikely due to user interaction, the ARD may refrain from transmitting the sensor data. These techniques conserves power at the ARD, relieves the back-end system from needless processing, and enables more accurate indications of the amount of the item stored by the ARD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Jonathan Lefkow, Jon Appleby, David Charles Buuck, Charles Robert Watson, Amirali Virani, Hannah McClellan Richards
  • Publication number: 20210389860
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 11126955
    Abstract: A reorder device having an item tag reader and one or more sensors may facilitate the automatic reordering of an item for a customer. The item may be associated with an item tag that is placed on (or near) the reorder device. The reorder device may detect the item tag and transmit such data to an entity device, which may associate the reorder device and the item. The reorder device may periodically obtain weight measurements of the item that is placed on the reorder device, as well as a timestamp that indicates a time at which the weight measurements are obtained. Such data may be provided to the entity device, and an entity associated with the entity device may determine whether weight measurement satisfies an item threshold value. If so, additional inventory of the item may be ordered and delivered to the customer, without additional input from the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Robert Watson, David Charles Buuck, Dave Jonathan Lefkow, Joshua Golden Edwards, Lindsey Ann Bauer, Christa Stephens Glenn, Samuel Stevens Heyworth, Lara Marie Sosnosky, Amirali Virani, Hannah McClellan Richards
  • Patent number: 11073933
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Sensel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Publication number: 20200159361
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Publication number: 20190317636
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 10379664
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Sensel Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Publication number: 20180095591
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 9864461
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: receiving a touch image from a handheld device, the touch image comprising representations of discrete inputs into a touch sensor integrated into the handheld device; extracting a first force magnitude of a first input at a first location on a first side of the handheld device from the touch image; extracting a second force magnitude of a second input at a second location on a second side of the handheld device from the touch image, the second side of the handheld device opposite the first side of the handheld device; transforming the first input and the second input into a gesture; assigning a magnitude to the gesture based on the first force magnitude; and manipulating a virtual object within a virtual environment based on a type and the magnitude of the gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sensel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson
  • Patent number: 9836152
    Abstract: The single layer compressive substrate force sensor may include electrode patterns formed directly on a first side and second side of the compressive substrate. At least some of the electrode patterns are configured to provide a change in capacitance proportional with a compressive force applied to at least one of the electrode patterns, which compresses the compressive substrate. The single layer compressive substrate force sensor may include a first top electrode and a second top electrode pattern separated by an insulator to void contact between the electrode patterns. In operation, the first top electrode pattern and the second top electrode pattern are configured to provide projective capacitance, and thus provide detection of light touches or hover actions by an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Sik Yang, Charles Robert Watson, Edward Albert Liljegren, Angeles Marcia Almanza-Workman, Reuben Eric Martinez
  • Patent number: 9710087
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for ambient light sensing for electronic displays. In one embodiment, a device may include a cover layer, a display, and a capacitive sensor stack positioned in between the cover layer and the display. The capacitive sensor stack may include a first sensor optically coupled to the cover layer, a light guide optically coupled to the first sensor, where the light guide is translucent and compressible, and a second sensor optically coupled to the display and to the light guide. The capacitive sensor stack may be configured to detect a force received at the cover film and to compress in response to the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagendra Bage Jayaraj, Jung Sik Yang, Sukwon Noh, Charles Robert Watson
  • Publication number: 20170031503
    Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: receiving a touch image from a handheld device, the touch image comprising representations of discrete inputs into a touch sensor integrated into the handheld device; extracting a first force magnitude of a first input at a first location on a first side of the handheld device from the touch image; extracting a second force magnitude of a second input at a second location on a second side of the handheld device from the touch image, the second side of the handheld device opposite the first side of the handheld device; transforming the first input and the second input into a gesture; assigning a magnitude to the gesture based on the first force magnitude; and manipulating a virtual object within a virtual environment based on a type and the magnitude of the gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, John Aaron Zarraga, Alexander Meagher Grau, Charles Robert Watson