Patents by Inventor David A. Rice

David A. Rice 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: 9855816
    Abstract: An automated vehicle (AV) can include a data processing system housed in a cooling rack, and a thermal reduction system to provide cooling for the data processing system. The thermal reduction system can include a fluid pump to pump cooling fluid through the cooling rack, a cabin radiator to receive the cooling fluid and pump cabin air from the interior cabin of the AV to cool the cooling fluid, and a main radiator to receive the cooling fluid and pump outside air to further cool the cooling fluid. Additionally, the thermal reduction system can include a secondary cooling unit that includes a condenser, evaporator, and compressor pump to further cool the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Meyhofer, David Rice
  • Publication number: 20170282675
    Abstract: A thermal reduction system for an autonomous vehicle can include a fluid pump pumping cooling fluid through one or more fluid lines of a cooling rack to cool a data processing system of the autonomous vehicle. The thermal reduction system can further include a cabin radiator receiving the cooling fluid from the fluid pump. The cabin radiator can include an air pump forcing cabin air from an interior passenger cabin of the AV though the cabin radiator to cool the cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Meyhofer, David Rice
  • Publication number: 20170259753
    Abstract: A sidepod stereo camera system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes a sidepod housing mounted to the AV, a view pane coupled to the sidepod housing, and a stereo camera mounted within the sidepod housing. The stereo camera has a field of view extending outward from the sidepod housing through the view pane. A control system of the sidepod stereo camera system or the AV can conditionally activate and deactivate the sidepod stereo camera system when needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Meyhofer, David Rice
  • Publication number: 20170174037
    Abstract: An automated vehicle (AV) can include a data processing system housed in a cooling rack, and a thermal reduction system to provide cooling for the data processing system. The thermal reduction system can include a fluid pump to pump cooling fluid through the cooling rack, a cabin radiator to receive the cooling fluid and pump cabin air from the interior cabin of the AV to cool the cooling fluid, and a main radiator to receive the cooling fluid and pump outside air to further cool the cooling fluid. Additionally, the thermal reduction system can include a secondary cooling unit that includes a condenser, evaporator, and compressor pump to further cool the cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Meyhofer, David Rice
  • Publication number: 20170177000
    Abstract: An intelligent lens masking system for a camera array of an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include an array interface to receive real-time data from the camera array as the AV travels along a given route, where each camera of the camera array may include a masking layer on its lens. The intelligent lens masking system can dynamically identify, in the real-time data, a number of light sources in the field of view for each respective camera in the camera array. Once the light source(s) for the respective camera is detected, the intelligent lens masking system can dynamically block the lights source(s) for the respective camera by activating a number of pixels of the masking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Meyhofer, David Rice
  • Publication number: 20170174259
    Abstract: An integrated clutch steering mechanism for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a steering clutch coupled to a steering column of the AV, and an AV steering motor coupled to the steering clutch. The AV steering motor can apply torque to the steering column via the steering clutch to control steering of the AV. When a predetermined amount of torque is exceeded on the steering column, the steering clutch slips to enable manual steering of the AV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Meyhofer, David Rice
  • Patent number: 9573231
    Abstract: A driving apparatus is used for simultaneously tensioning the jackbolts of a multi-jackbolt tensioner and includes a central drive gear mounted for rotation along a central drive gear axis. An annular array of spindles surrounds the central drive gear, each spindle independently mounted for rotation, with one spindle associated with one of the jackbolts. A socket on one spindle end is configured to receive one of the jackbolts. A spindle gear surrounds each spindle and is configured to rotate the spindle. The spindle gear is meshed with the central drive gear to be rotated by the central drive gear, wherein at least one spindle gear is offset along the central drive gear axis from at least another spindle gear. A slip clutch is positioned radially between each spindle gear and the associated spindle, wherein rotation of the jackbolts is up to a torque setting of the slip clutch during tensioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: David Rice
  • Publication number: 20170010777
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a user to define a webpage and webpage layout without knowing a programming language are disclosed. A library of modules is provided usable to configure a layout and look of a webpage. The user may add modules from the library to a webpage layout design area. The user may configure a given module so as to control the look and feel of the content accessed and displayed by the module. Different instantiations of the same module may be used to access content from different sources, including sources using different file and data formats. Content from the different sources may be accessed and stored in a schema-less database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Rice
  • Patent number: 9481393
    Abstract: An integrated clutch steering system for an automated vehicle (AV) can include an offset gear having a first gear endpoint and a second gear endpoint. The offset gear can be mounted to a steering column of the AV at the first gear endpoint. The integrated clutch steering system can further include an AV steering motor coupled to a steering clutch, which can be coupled to the offset gear at the second gear endpoint. The AV steering motor can be operated by an AV control system to apply torque to the steering column via the steering clutch and the offset gear to control steering of the AV. When a predetermined amount of torque is exceeded on the steering column, the steering clutch can slip to enable manual steering of the AV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Meyerhoffer, David Rice
  • Patent number: 9286274
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a user to define a webpage and webpage layout without knowing a programming language are disclosed. A library of modules is provided usable to configure a layout and look of a webpage. The user may add modules from the library to a webpage layout design area. The user may configure a given module so as to control the look and feel of the content accessed and displayed by the module. Different instantiations of the same module may be used to access content from different sources, including sources using different file and data formats. Content from the different sources may be accessed and stored in a schema-less database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MOBOOM LTD.
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Rice
  • Patent number: 9101942
    Abstract: A clarification system may comprise a channel having an inlet and an outlet, a length, bottom, and a height sufficient to contain a liquid having a depth. The clarification system may include one or more gas injectors disposed within the channel, configured to inject gas bubbles into a suspension flowing in the channel. In some embodiments, at least one gas injector injects gas bubbles having average or median size that does not exceed 100 microns in diameter. Some gas injectors inject bubbles having mean size below 50 microns. Some gas injectors inject gas via the precipitation of gas bubbles from a supersaturated liquid including a dissolved gas. Certain embodiments may be configured to form a quiet zone, typically near the top of the flowing suspension, in which turbulence may be minimized or substantially eliminated. Certain systems include a plurality of gas injectors disposed at different lengths along the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Aurora Algae, Inc.
    Inventors: David Rice, Mehran Parsheh, Jordan Smith, Guido Radaelli
  • Publication number: 20150212989
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a user to define a webpage and webpage layout without knowing a programming language are disclosed. A library of modules is provided usable to configure a layout and look of a webpage. The user may add modules from the library to a webpage layout design area. The user may configure a given module so as to control the look and feel of the content accessed and displayed by the module. Different instantiations of the same module may be used to access content from different sources, including sources using different file and data formats. Content from the different sources may be accessed and stored in a schema-less database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Rice
  • Publication number: 20150149888
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for processing a document request. A document request is received over a network from a client. The document may be composed of a plurality of parts. The parts in the plurality of parts are identified. The plurality of parts may comprise one or more widgets. Parts in the first plurality of parts may be executed via respective different servers to generate respective outputs, which may comprise mark-up language code. The respective outputs may be combined to generate the requested document and the document is provided over the network to the requesting client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey David Rice, Benjamin Peter Sargent, David John Penner
  • Publication number: 20150040000
    Abstract: Systems and methods are configured to generate server-side media queries and customized cascading style sheets. A server receives a request for content and a user agent from a device browser. The server serves device cookie generation code to the device, wherein the device cookie generation code is configured to be executed by the device browser to obtain properties of the device from the requesting device and to store the obtained properties as a device cookie. The server receives the device cookie from the requesting device. The server accesses a device description database and utilizes information from the user agent to locate corresponding device properties from the device description database. The server compiles a cascading style sheet based on properties stored in the device cookie and the located corresponding device properties from the device description database. The cascading style sheet is served to the requesting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey David Rice, Benjamin Peter Sargent
  • Patent number: 8833823
    Abstract: A grabber assembly has a base to secure with the refuse collection device. A pair of arms is pivotally coupled with the base. The pair of arms moves between a grasping position and a release position. Belts are coupled with the arms. The belts contact the refuse container in the grasping position. A tensioning device tensions the belts to provide a variable force rate to tension the belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Price, Robert H. Doll, Eugene Neplotnik, David Rice
  • Publication number: 20140245869
    Abstract: A driving apparatus is used for simultaneously tensioning the jackbolts of a multi-jackbolt tensioner and includes a central drive gear mounted for rotation along a central drive gear axis. An annular array of spindles surrounds the central drive gear, each spindle independently mounted for rotation, with one spindle associated with one of the jackbolts. A socket on one spindle end is configured to receive one of the jackbolts. A spindle gear surrounds each spindle and is configured to rotate the spindle. The spindle gear is meshed with the central drive gear to be rotated by the central drive gear, wherein at least one spindle gear is offset along the central drive gear axis from at least another spindle gear. A slip clutch is positioned radially between each spindle gear and the associated spindle, wherein rotation of the jackbolts is up to a torque setting of the slip clutch during tensioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: David Rice
  • Patent number: 8748160
    Abstract: Systems, methods and media for carbonation of fluid in an algae cultivation pond via the use of backward-facing steps are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method for initiating carbonation of a fluid flow in an algae cultivation pond is disclosed. Fluid flow is initiated over a backward-facing step in the algae cultivation pond. A backflow region is generated in the fluid flow downstream of the backward-facing step. Carbon dioxide is provided to the backflow region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Aurora Alage, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehran Parsheh, David Rice, Guido Radaelli
  • Publication number: 20130285401
    Abstract: A grabber assembly has a base to secure with the refuse collection device. A pair of arms is pivotally coupled with the base. The pair of arms moves between a grasping position and a release position. Belts are coupled with the arms. The belts contact the refuse container in the grasping position. A tensioning device tensions the belts to provide a variable force rate to tension the belts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas L. PRICE, Robert H. DOLL, Eugene NEPLOTNIK, David RICE
  • Patent number: 8508373
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for reliably detecting fluid leaks while minimizing false alarms. A leak sensor in proximity of a flat leakage surface, such as a floor area, is used to sense a permittivity of a media, such as water, coming in contact with the leak sensor. Leak is indicated if the sensed permittivity exceeds a permittivity threshold within a predefined time period. The predefined time period indicates a rate threshold that if exceeded indicates relatively fast accumulation of fluid in an air gap between the leak sensor and the leakage surface, precluding or reducing the possibility of false alarm due to gradual increase in environmental humidity or moisture. The air gap defines a fluid volume that is substantially filled before leak is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: David Rice
  • Patent number: 8496668
    Abstract: Provided is a combined umbilical cord clamp, cutter, disinfectant, and data collecting system which reduces the risk of cord infections due to unsanitary birth conditions. Also provided is an identification system which aids in the collection of birth statistics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: The Adminstrators of the Tulane Educational Fund
    Inventors: David Rice, William Kethman, Bryan Molter, Stephanie Roberts, Mark Young