Patents by Inventor Dallas Dwight Hickerson

Dallas Dwight Hickerson 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: 10274726
    Abstract: A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an image source providing illuminated images. At least one mirror is positioned to provide a first reflection of the illuminated images. A windshield is positioned to receive the first reflection and provide a second reflection of the illuminated image such that the second reflection is visible to a driver of the vehicle who has at least one eye within an eyebox defined by the second reflection. An image capturing device captures images of a head of a driver of the motor vehicle. An electronic processor adjusts, based on the captured images of the driver's head, the illuminated images and/or a position of the at least one mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Dallas Dwight Hickerson, Thomas Ray Burns
  • Publication number: 20170299873
    Abstract: A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an image source providing illuminated images. At least one mirror is positioned to provide a first reflection of the illuminated images. A windshield is positioned to receive the first reflection and provide a second reflection of the illuminated image such that the second reflection is visible to a driver of the vehicle who has at least one eye within an eyebox defined by the second reflection. An image capturing device captures images of a head of a driver of the motor vehicle. An electronic processor adjusts, based on the captured images of the driver's head, the illuminated images and/or a position of the at least one mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: DALLAS DWIGHT HICKERSON, THOMAS RAY BURNS
  • Patent number: 9648420
    Abstract: An audio power amplifier arrangement includes an audio power amplification integrated circuit having two loudspeaker outputs. A rectifier circuit includes a first diode having a cathode connected to one of the two loudspeaker outputs and an anode connected to a rectifier output node. A second diode has an anode connected to the one loudspeaker output. A first resistor has a first end connected to a cathode of the second diode and a second end connected to the rectifier output node. A capacitor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground. A second resistor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Dallas Dwight Hickerson, Kenneth Dale Finlon
  • Publication number: 20170048426
    Abstract: A method of operating a video system includes receiving an image captured by use of a fisheye lens. The image is divided into a plurality of horizontal image lines. A respective fraction of each of the horizontal image lines is sampled with a different respective sampling frequency. Each sampling frequency is inversely related to a size of the sampled fraction. The size of the sampled fraction increases with each horizontal image line in a progression from a top of the image to a bottom of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventor: DALLAS DWIGHT HICKERSON
  • Publication number: 20170019625
    Abstract: There is provided a system (200) and method (400) of displaying video content. In a method (400) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a native aspect ratio of the video content is determined (404) and an optimized viewing format is selected (406) from a plurality of viewing formats based at least in part on the native aspect ratio of the video content. The video content is displayed (408) in the optimized viewing format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: NAM CHIN CHO, DALLAS DWIGHT HICKERSON
  • Patent number: 9531923
    Abstract: A method of operating a video system includes receiving an image captured by use of a fisheye lens. The image is divided into a plurality of horizontal image lines. A respective fraction of each of the horizontal image lines is sampled with a different respective sampling frequency. Each sampling frequency is inversely related to a size of the sampled fraction. The size of the sampled fraction increases with each horizontal image line in a progression from a top of the image to a bottom of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Dallas Dwight Hickerson
  • Patent number: 9485455
    Abstract: There is provided a system (200) and method (400) of displaying video content. In a method (400) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a native aspect ratio of the video content is determined (404) and an optimized viewing format is selected (406) from a plurality of viewing formats based at least in part on the native aspect ratio of the video content. The video content is displayed (408) in the optimized viewing format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Nam Chin Cho, Dallas Dwight Hickerson
  • Publication number: 20160269826
    Abstract: An audio power amplifier arrangement includes an audio power amplification integrated circuit having two loudspeaker outputs. A rectifier circuit includes a first diode having a cathode connected to one of the two loudspeaker outputs and an anode connected to a rectifier output node. A second diode has an anode connected to the one loudspeaker output. A first resistor has a first end connected to a cathode of the second diode and a second end connected to the rectifier output node. A capacitor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground. A second resistor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: DALLAS DWIGHT HICKERSON, KENNETH DALE FINLON
  • Patent number: 9379681
    Abstract: An audio power amplifier arrangement includes an audio power amplification integrated circuit having two loudspeaker outputs. A rectifier circuit includes a first diode having a cathode connected to one of the two loudspeaker outputs and an anode connected to a rectifier output node. A second diode has an anode connected to the one loudspeaker output. A first resistor has a first end connected to a cathode of the second diode and a second end connected to the rectifier output node. A capacitor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground. A second resistor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Dallas Dwight Hickerson, Kenneth Dale Finlon
  • Publication number: 20150319519
    Abstract: A method of modulating an infrared headphone interface signal includes providing a first audio signal having an analog audio value. A memory is provided having a plurality of locations and containing digital phase offset values. A clock signal having a clock frequency is provided. A second audio signal having a center carrier frequency that deviates with the analog audio value of the first audio signal is provided. An instantaneous value of the center carrier frequency is determined. The clock frequency is divided by the instantaneous carrier frequency value to thereby calculate a number of samples per cycle. A number of location addresses in the memory is divided by the number of samples per cycle to thereby calculate a memory access interval. The memory is accessed at addresses separated by the calculated memory access interval. The digital phase offset values at the accessed memory addresses are used to reproduce the first audio signal by use of headphones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: DALLAS DWIGHT HICKERSON, JOSEPH CECIL WHITAKER
  • Publication number: 20150271614
    Abstract: An audio power amplifier arrangement includes an audio power amplification integrated circuit having two loudspeaker outputs. A rectifier circuit includes a first diode having a cathode connected to one of the two loudspeaker outputs and an anode connected to a rectifier output node. A second diode has an anode connected to the one loudspeaker output. A first resistor has a first end connected to a cathode of the second diode and a second end connected to the rectifier output node. A capacitor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground. A second resistor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: DALLAS DWIGHT HICKERSON, KENNETH DALE FINLON
  • Patent number: 9094761
    Abstract: A method of modulating an infrared headphone interface signal includes providing a first audio signal having an analog audio value. A memory is provided having a plurality of locations and containing digital phase offset values. A clock signal having a clock frequency is provided. A second audio signal having a center carrier frequency that deviates with the analog audio value of the first audio signal is provided. An instantaneous value of the center carrier frequency is determined. The clock frequency is divided by the instantaneous carrier frequency value to calculate a number of samples per cycle. A number of location addresses in the memory is divided by the number of samples per cycle to calculate a memory access interval. The memory is accessed at addresses separated by the memory access interval. The digital phase offset values at the accessed memory addresses are used to reproduce the first audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Dallas Dwight Hickerson, Joseph Cecil Whitaker
  • Publication number: 20150163380
    Abstract: A method of operating a video system includes receiving an image captured by use of a fisheye lens. The image is divided into a plurality of horizontal image lines. A respective fraction of each of the horizontal image lines is sampled with a different respective sampling frequency. Each sampling frequency is inversely related to a size of the sampled fraction. The size of the sampled fraction increases with each horizontal image line in a progression from a top of the image to a bottom of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventor: DALLAS DWIGHT HICKERSON
  • Patent number: 8988492
    Abstract: A method of operating a video system includes receiving an image captured by use of a fisheye lens. The image is divided into a plurality of horizontal image lines. A respective fraction of each of the horizontal image lines is sampled with a different respective sampling frequency. Each sampling frequency is inversely related to a size of the sampled fraction. The size of the sampled fraction increases with each horizontal image line in a progression from a top of the image to a bottom of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Dallas Dwight Hickerson
  • Publication number: 20130156215
    Abstract: A method of modulating an infrared headphone interface signal includes providing a first audio signal having an analog audio value. A memory is provided having a plurality of locations and containing digital phase offset values. A clock signal having a clock frequency is provided. A second audio signal having a center carrier frequency that deviates with the analog audio value of the first audio signal is provided. An instantaneous value of the center carrier frequency is determined. The clock frequency is divided by the instantaneous carrier frequency value to calculate a number of samples per cycle. A number of location addresses in the memory is divided by the number of samples per cycle to calculate a memory access interval. The memory is accessed at addresses separated by the memory access interval. The digital phase offset values at the accessed memory addresses are used to reproduce the first audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Dallas Dwight Hickerson, Joseph Cecil Whitaker
  • Patent number: 7782323
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system (100) that is adapted to process digital video data. An exemplary embodiment of the system (100) comprises a processor (110) that produces a digital video data stream (112), and a character generator (200) that is adapted to select a pixel data value from one of a plurality of standard data lines (604, 606, 608, 610) to insert into the digital video data stream (112) based on a representation of a character stored in a memory (210) associated with the character generator (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Dallas Dwight Hickerson, Bruce Edward Kerkemeyer
  • Publication number: 20100194850
    Abstract: A method of operating a video system includes receiving an image captured by use of a fisheye lens. The image is divided into a plurality of horizontal image lines. A respective fraction of each of the horizontal image lines is sampled with a different respective sampling frequency. Each sampling frequency is inversely related to a size of the sampled fraction. The size of the sampled fraction increases with each horizontal image line in a progression from a top of the image to a bottom of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Dallas Dwight Hickerson
  • Publication number: 20100073306
    Abstract: A dual-view display system (102) includes a dual-view touchscreen display (104) adapted to display a first image including a first menu to a first user positioned at a first location with respect to system (102) and to display a second image including a second menu to a second user positioned at a second location with respect to system (102). The dual-view display system (102) further includes at least one sensor (106, 108) adapted to detect proximity to the dual-view touchscreen display (104) of the first user relative to the proximity to the dual-view touchscreen display (104) of the second user. Menu selection logic (402) identifies a received user touch command as a selection from the first menu or as a selection from the second menu based on the proximity to the dual-view touchscreen display (104) of the first user relative to the proximity to the dual-view touchscreen display (104) of the second user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Dallas Dwight Hickerson
  • Patent number: 7679685
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system (100) that processes an analog video signal (502), the analog video signal (502) comprising luminance information (408), first chrominance information (410), and second chrominance information (410). An exemplary video system (100) comprises a first time-sampled analog filter (506) that extracts the luminance information (408) from a first aliased copy of the analog video signal (502), a second time-sampled analog filter (508) that extracts the first chrominance information (410) from a second aliased copy of the analog video signal (502), and a third time-sampled analog filter (510) that extracts the second chrominance information (410) from a third aliased copy of the analog video signal (502).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems of America division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Hans Alfred Troemel, Jr., Dallas Dwight Hickerson
  • Publication number: 20090262239
    Abstract: There is provided a system (200) and method (400) of displaying video content. In a method (400) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a native aspect ratio of the video content is determined (404) and an optimized viewing format is selected (406) from a plurality of viewing formats based at least in part on the native aspect ratio of the video content. The video content is displayed (408) in the optimized viewing format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Nam Chin Cho, Dallas Dwight Hickerson