Patents by Inventor Christopher Frank

Christopher Frank 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: 12260501
    Abstract: This specification describes systems and methods for refining point cloud data. Methods can include receiving point cloud data for a physical space, iteratively selecting points along an x, y, and z dimension, clustering the selected points into 2D histograms, determining a slope value for each 2D histogram, and removing, based on the slope value exceeding a predetermined value, points from the point cloud data. Methods can also include iteratively voxelizing each 2D histogram into predetermined mesh sizes, summating points in each voxelized 2D histogram, removing, based on determining the summation is below a predetermined sum value, points from the point cloud data, keeping, based on determining that a number of points in each voxelized 2D histogram exceeds a threshold value, a center point, selecting, for each histogram, a point, identifying, nearest neighbors in the point cloud data, removing the identified nearest neighbors from the data, and returning remaining points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Lineage Logistics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Brady Michael Lowe, Alexander Hall
  • Patent number: 12176690
    Abstract: A power distributor (200) with at least two incoming lines (101-103) and a method for manufacturing such a power distributor is suggested. Each incoming line has a conductor (106,107) and an individual screen (114). The conductors of the incoming lines are connected at a connection point (V1, V2), which is enclosed by a screen shield (201) that contacts each individual screen (114) of the incoming lines. The screen shield (201) is made from electrically conducting plastic material. Screen shields made from electrically conducting plastic material is easier to manufacture and less expensive than metal screen shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Christoph Frank, Tobias Kroop, Ulrich Döllinger, Wolfgang Ehlich
  • Publication number: 20240355048
    Abstract: This specification describes systems and methods for refining point cloud data. Methods can include receiving point cloud data for a physical space, iteratively selecting points along an x, y, and z dimension, clustering the selected points into 2D histograms, determining a slope value for each 2D histogram, and removing, based on the slope value exceeding a predetermined value, points from the point cloud data. Methods can also include iteratively voxelizing each 2D histogram into predetermined mesh sizes, summating points in each voxelized 2D histogram, removing, based on determining the summation is below a predetermined sum value, points from the point cloud data, keeping, based on determining that a number of points in each voxelized 2D histogram exceeds a threshold value, a center point, selecting, for each histogram, a point, identifying, nearest neighbors in the point cloud data, removing the identified nearest neighbors from the data, and returning remaining points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Brady Michael Lowe, Alexander Hall
  • Publication number: 20240351789
    Abstract: An automated warehouse system can include automated pallet movers, a physical space in which the automated pallet movers operate, and a control system to provide commands to each of the automated pallet movers for operating in the physical space. The commands can include a pallet transportation command including a pallet identifier of a pallet to be transported by the automated pallet mover in the physical space, and a destination location to which the pallet is to be transported by the automated pallet mover. The commands can also include a control algorithm command that specifies a control algorithm for moving through the physical space. The automated pallet mover can be configured to transport the pallet to the destination location according to a route resulting from performance of the control algorithm, while other automated pallet movers concurrently transport other pallets to other destination locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Daniël Walet, Frank Baijens
  • Patent number: 12107667
    Abstract: System and method for optimizing optical power management along one or more optical channels of an optical communication network (OCN), the OCN comprising a plurality of optical channels. The method comprises accessing a digital twin (DT) of the OCN, receiving a desired optimization instruction to optimize the one or more optical channels in view of at least one operational parameter, executing an optical power optimization module on the DT by simulating application of at least one network configuration of the at least one optical channel, each network configuration having a corresponding predicted optimized level indicative of expected performances of the at least one optical channel of the OCN for the corresponding network configuration. In response to the predicted optimization level of a given network configuration satisfying a criterion, the network configuration is identified as a target network configuration and applied on the OCN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuren You, Mahdi Hemmati, Christopher Frank Janz
  • Patent number: 11999571
    Abstract: An automated warehouse system can include automated pallet movers, a physical space in which the automated pallet movers operate, and a control system to provide commands to each of the automated pallet movers for operating in the physical space. The commands can include a pallet transportation command including a pallet identifier of a pallet to be transported by the automated pallet mover in the physical space, and a destination location to which the pallet is to be transported by the automated pallet mover. The commands can also include a control algorithm command that specifies a control algorithm for moving through the physical space. The automated pallet mover can be configured to transport the pallet to the destination location according to a route resulting from performance of the control algorithm, while other automated pallet movers concurrently transport other pallets to other destination locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Lineage Lineage, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Daniël Walet, Frank Baijens
  • Patent number: 12002156
    Abstract: This specification describes systems and methods for refining point cloud data. Methods can include receiving point cloud data for a physical space, iteratively selecting points along an x, y, and z dimension, clustering the selected points into 2D histograms, determining a slope value for each 2D histogram, and removing, based on the slope value exceeding a predetermined value, points from the point cloud data. Methods can also include iteratively voxelizing each 2D histogram into predetermined mesh sizes, summating points in each voxelized 2D histogram, removing, based on determining the summation is below a predetermined sum value, points from the point cloud data, keeping, based on determining that a number of points in each voxelized 2D histogram exceeds a threshold value, a center point, selecting, for each histogram, a point, identifying, nearest neighbors in the point cloud data, removing the identified nearest neighbors from the data, and returning remaining points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Lineage Logistics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Brady Michael Lowe, Alexander Hall
  • Patent number: 11994789
    Abstract: In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in an anti-fogging apparatus for a camera assembly. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a camera affixed to a substrate, and a thermally conductive plate, the thermally conductive plate positioned in front of the substrate and defining a first aperture aligned with a lens of the camera. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a transparent plate positioned in front of the thermally conductive plate such that the transparent plate covers said first aperture. The anti-fogging apparatus includes an insulating element positioned in front of the transparent plate and defining a second aperture aligned with the first aperture. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a heating element affixed to the thermally conductive plate. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a case enclosing the camera, the thermally conductive plate, the transparent plate, the insulating element, and the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Lineage Logistics, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Frank Eckman
  • Patent number: 11995852
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatic identification and annotation of objects in a point cloud in real time. The system can automatically annotate a point cloud that identifies coordinates of objects in three-dimensional space while data is being collected for the point cloud. The system can train models of physical objects based on training data, and apply the models to point clouds that are generated by various point cloud generating devices to annotate the points in the point clouds with object identifiers. The solution of automatically annotated point cloud can be used for various applications, such as blueprints, map navigation, and determination of robotic movement in a warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Lineage Logistics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Alexander Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 11990254
    Abstract: A cable distributor for individual cables that are shielded by an electrically conductive shield. The cable distributor has an electrically insulating outer housing, which receives a connection piece at which at least two individual cables are connected to each another. The shields of the connected individual cables are connected to each other by means of an electrically conductive shield housing, as a result of which a continuous shielding of the current-carrying parts of the cable distributor is achieved. A method for producing such a cable distributor is also proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Tobias Kroop, Christoph Frank, Thomas Schneider
  • Patent number: 11985197
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for communicating with a motor vehicle. The method comprises providing a social media interface for the motor vehicle on a specified vehicle fleet server, wherein a communication is provided via a social media application through the social media interface, receiving a message from a mobile terminal through the social media interface, ascertaining a vehicle function call from the message by an interpretation program, wherein semantics of the message are interpreted by in order to ascertain the vehicle function call, carrying out the ascertained vehicle function call in the motor vehicle, and sending a response message from the vehicle fleet server to the mobile terminal if, as a response to the vehicle function call, the vehicle fleet server obtains a vehicle parameter from the motor vehicle, wherein the response message is generated depending on the obtained vehicle parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Christoph Franke, Kevin Konradt
  • Publication number: 20240129055
    Abstract: System and method for optimizing optical power management along one or more optical channels of an optical communication network (OCN), the OCN comprising a plurality of optical channels. The method comprises accessing a digital twin (DT) of the OCN, receiving a desired optimization instruction to optimize the one or more optical channels in view of at least one operational parameter, executing an optical power optimization module on the DT by simulating application of at least one network configuration of the at least one optical channel, each network configuration having a corresponding predicted optimized level indicative of expected performances of the at least one optical channel of the OCN for the corresponding network configuration. In response to the predicted optimization level of a given network configuration satisfying a criterion, the network configuration is identified as a target network configuration and applied on the OCN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Yuren YOU, Mahdi HEMMATI, Christopher Frank JANZ
  • Publication number: 20240070888
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatic identification and annotation of objects in a point cloud in real time. The system can automatically annotate a point cloud that identifies coordinates of objects in three-dimensional space while data is being collected for the point cloud. The system can train models of physical objects based on training data, and apply the models to point clouds that are generated by various point cloud generating devices to annotate the points in the point clouds with object identifiers. The solution of automatically annotated point cloud can be used for various applications, such as blueprints, map navigation, and determination of robotic movement in a warehouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Alexander Ming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230373722
    Abstract: A layer pick system optimizes usage of a layer picker gantry or robotic arm by arranging and/or displacing the gantry or arm in optimal locations with respect to one or more groups of pallets, and/or by grouping pallets by their attributes and arranging the same group of pallets close to each other. In some implementations, a plurality of pallets is categorized into multiple groups by different velocities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Daniël Walet, Elliott Gerard Wolf, Frank Baijens, Sudarsan Thattai
  • Patent number: 11807455
    Abstract: This document generally describes warehousing systems that can, in certain instances, improve the efficiency of warehousing operations and improve utilization of available space in a warehousing facility. The warehousing system may be implemented in an automated warehouse, such as an automated cold-storage facility, that uses programmable equipment to automate tasks associated with warehousing operations, such as transporting inbound storage items to specified storage positions of storage racks in the warehouse and removing outbound storage items from storage so that they may be loaded onto trucks for delivery away from the warehouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lineage Logistics, LLC
    Inventors: Elliott Gerard Wolf, Christopher Frank Eckman, Brian Gutschow
  • Publication number: 20230343031
    Abstract: This specification describes systems and methods for refining point cloud data. Methods can include receiving point cloud data for a physical space, iteratively selecting points along an x, y, and z dimension, clustering the selected points into 2D histograms, determining a slope value for each 2D histogram, and removing, based on the slope value exceeding a predetermined value, points from the point cloud data. Methods can also include iteratively voxelizing each 2D histogram into predetermined mesh sizes, summating points in each voxelized 2D histogram, removing, based on determining the summation is below a predetermined sum value, points from the point cloud data, keeping, based on determining that a number of points in each voxelized 2D histogram exceeds a threshold value, a center point, selecting, for each histogram, a point, identifying, nearest neighbors in the point cloud data, removing the identified nearest neighbors from the data, and returning remaining points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Brady Michael Lowe, Alexander Hall
  • Publication number: 20230333454
    Abstract: In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in an anti-fogging apparatus for a camera assembly. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a camera affixed to a substrate, and a thermally conductive plate, the thermally conductive plate positioned in front of the substrate and defining a first aperture aligned with a lens of the camera. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a transparent plate positioned in front of the thermally conductive plate such that the transparent plate covers said first aperture. The anti-fogging apparatus includes an insulating element positioned in front of the transparent plate and defining a second aperture aligned with the first aperture. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a heating element affixed to the thermally conductive plate. The anti-fogging apparatus includes a case enclosing the camera, the thermally conductive plate, the transparent plate, the insulating element, and the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher Frank Eckman
  • Publication number: 20230334778
    Abstract: This specification describes systems and methods for generating a mapping of a physical space from point cloud data for the physical space. The methods can include receiving the point cloud data for the physical space, filtering the point cloud data to, at least, remove sparse points from the point cloud data, aligning the point cloud data along x, y, and z dimensions that correspond to an orientation of the physical space, and classifying the points in the point cloud data as corresponding to one or more types of physical surfaces. The methods can also include identifying specific physical structures in the physical space based, at least in part, on classifications for the points in the point cloud data, and generating the mapping of the physical space to identify the specific physical structures and corresponding contours for the specific physical structures within the orientation of the physical space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Brady Michael Lowe
  • Publication number: 20230331486
    Abstract: An automated warehouse system can include automated pallet movers, a physical space in which the automated pallet movers operate, and a control system to provide commands to each of the automated pallet movers for operating in the physical space. The commands can include a pallet transportation command including a pallet identifier of a pallet to be transported by the automated pallet mover in the physical space, and a destination location to which the pallet is to be transported by the automated pallet mover. The commands can also include a control algorithm command that specifies a control algorithm for moving through the physical space. The automated pallet mover can be configured to transport the pallet to the destination location according to a route resulting from performance of the control algorithm, while other automated pallet movers concurrently transport other pallets to other destination locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Frank Eckman, Daniël Walet, Frank Baijens
  • Patent number: D1035629
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: AUSTRIAN AUDIO GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Frank, Martin Seidl