Patents by Inventor Cliff Biffle

Cliff Biffle 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).

  • Balloon-based positioning system and method
    Patent number: 10162044
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon-based positioning system and method. In one example embodiment, a system includes at least three balloons, with each balloon including a position-determining module (PDM) and a position-broadcasting module (PBM). Each PDM is configured for determining a position of the respective balloon and each PBM is configured for broadcasting a balloon signal containing balloon-positioning data of the respective balloon. The balloon-positioning data includes the determined position of the respective balloon and a corresponding time of broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Richard Wayne DeVaul, Waleed Kadous, Eric Teller, Cliff Biffle, Edward Allen Keyes
  • Balloon-Based Positioning System and Method
    Publication number: 20160154085
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon-based positioning system and method. In one example embodiment, a system includes at least three balloons, with each balloon including a position-determining module (PDM) and a position-broadcasting module (PBM). Each PDM is configured for determining a position of the respective balloon and each PBM is configured for broadcasting a balloon signal containing balloon-positioning data of the respective balloon. The balloon-positioning data includes the determined position of the respective balloon and a corresponding time of broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Wayne DeVaul, Waleed KADOUS, Eric Teller, Cliff Biffle, Edward Allen Keyes
  • Balloon-based positioning system and method
    Patent number: 9285450
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon-based positioning system and method. In one example embodiment, a system includes at least three balloons, with each balloon including a position-determining module (PDM) and a position-broadcasting module (PBM). Each PDM is configured for determining a position of the respective balloon and each PBM is configured for broadcasting a balloon signal containing balloon-positioning data of the respective balloon. The balloon-positioning data includes the determined position of the respective balloon and a corresponding time of broadcast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Wayne DeVaul, Waleed Kadous, Eric Teller, Cliff Biffle, Edward Allen Keyes
  • Balloon envelope with integrated receiver
    Patent number: 8917995
    Abstract: A balloon envelope with an integrated receiver. In an example embodiment, a balloon includes: (i) an envelope including one or more signal passing sections, each of the one or more signal-passing sections being configured to allow a signal to pass through; (ii) at least one signal receiver corresponding to a particular one of the one or more signal passing sections; and (iii) at least one signal-directing surface located within the envelope and corresponding to the particular one of the one or more signal-passing sections, the at least one signal-directing surface being configured to receive the signal and direct the signal towards the at least one signal receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Cliff Biffle, Richard Wayne DeVaul, Joshua Weaver, Anton Valdemar Staaf, Eric Teller, Michael Cassidy
  • Balloon-Based Positioning System and Method
    Publication number: 20140085135
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a balloon-based positioning system and method. In one example embodiment, a system includes at least three balloons, with each balloon including a position-determining module (PDM) and a position-broadcasting module (PBM). Each PDM is configured for determining a position of the respective balloon and each PBM is configured for broadcasting a balloon signal containing balloon-positioning data of the respective balloon. The balloon-positioning data includes the determined position of the respective balloon and a corresponding time of broadcast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Wayne DEVAUL, Waleed KADOUS, Eric TELLER, Cliff Biffle, Edward Allen KEYES