Patents by Inventor Donald Hutson
Donald Hutson 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).
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Patent number: 10850835Abstract: Various embodiments include a drone capable of operating as an airplane, a quad-copter, or a hybrid aircraft using a versatile flight performance envelope enabled by six elements of control. The drone may include a monolithic wing with a propulsion/lift module connected to each wing tip. Each propulsion/lift module may include a pivotal support structure configured to pivot around a longitudinal axis of the monolithic wing, with two pylons extending radially outwardly from the pivotal support structure and at least partially away from one another, and a propulsion units positioned on a distal end of each pylon. The pivotal support structures may be coupled to the monolithic wing via a servo motor enabling a processor to individually control rotation of each propulsion/lift module to provide roll and pitch control. Thrust and rotation of the propulsion units may be individually controlled by the processor to provide yaw, roll and pitch control.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Donald Hutson
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Patent number: 10472090Abstract: A lighting system for an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) adapts to the environment around the UAV to ensure status notification lights are visible to an operator and/or abide by regulatory lighting requirements. A processor of the UAV may receive information from various sensors regarding environmental conditions and location of the UAV, and adjust a UAV lighting system to ensure visibility under the environmental conditions. Adjustments to the lighting system may include selection of light sources that are illuminated, the illumination intensity of particular light sources, the colors emitted by various light sources and other lighting configurations.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Ross Eric Kessler, Jonathan Paul Davis, John Anthony Dougherty, Daniel Warren Mellinger, III, Charles Wheeler Sweet, III, Donald Hutson
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Patent number: 10281930Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed of a device for use on an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) including two or more gimbals, a gimbal processor, an inertial measurement unit, and a communication connection. The two or more gimbals are pivotally coupled to rotate orthogonally relative to each other. An inner gimbal of the two or more gimbals may support an inner platform for receiving components thereon. An outer gimbal of the two or more gimbals may be pivotally coupled to the drone. The gimbal processor is mounted on the inner platform, wherein the gimbal processor is configured to control pivotal movement of the two or more gimbals. The inertial measurement unit may be fixed relative to the inner platform and coupled to the gimbal processor. The communication connection may be coupled to the gimbal processor and configured to exchange signals with the drone for controlling operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20180312274Abstract: A lighting system for an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) adapts to the environment around the UAV to ensure status notification lights are visible to an operator and/or abide by regulatory lighting requirements. A processor of the UAV may receive information from various sensors regarding environmental conditions and location of the UAV, and adjust a UAV lighting system to ensure visibility under the environmental conditions. Adjustments to the lighting system may include selection of light sources that are illuminated, the illumination intensity of particular light sources, the colors emitted by various light sources and other lighting configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Ross Eric Kessler, Jonathan Paul Davis, John Anthony Dougherty, Daniel Warren Mellinger, III, Charles Wheeler Sweet, III, Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20180281933Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems of various embodiments are disclosed for operating a propeller assembly for use with a UAV. Various embodiments include a propeller assembly including a pivotal arm, a propeller mounted on the pivotal arm, and pivotal leg coupled to the pivotal arm. The pivotal leg may be folded into the pivotal arm and the pivotal arm may be folded into a body of the UAV. A processor may be coupled to the propeller assembly and configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations of the propeller assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Jonathan Paul Davis, Donald Hutson, Paul Ferrell, Clayton Dumstorff, Travis Van Schoyck, Ross Eric Kessler
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Publication number: 20180281941Abstract: Various embodiments include a drone capable of operating as an airplane, a quad-copter, or a hybrid aircraft using a versatile flight performance envelope enabled by six elements of control. The drone may include a monolithic wing with a propulsion/lift module connected to each wing tip. Each propulsion/lift module may include a pivotal support structure configured to pivot around a longitudinal axis of the monolithic wing, with two pylons extending radially outwardly from the pivotal support structure and at least partially away from one another, and a propulsion units positioned on a distal end of each pylon. The pivotal support structures may be coupled to the monolithic wing via a servo motor enabling a processor to individually control rotation of each propulsion/lift module to provide roll and pitch control. Thrust and rotation of the propulsion units may be individually controlled by the processor to provide yaw, roll and pitch control.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventor: Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20180186471Abstract: An apparatus for mounting cameras to a drone may include a frame having camera mounts for mounting two 190-degree field-of-view cameras in a back-to-back orientation. Positioning two 190-degree field-of-view cameras in a back-to-back orientation enables obtaining 360-degree field-of-view by stitching images from the two cameras together. The frame may be configured to position the cameras at a 30-40-degree tilt angle (e.g., 35°) with respect to a main axis of the drone to enable the respective images to be stitched together with reduced stitch lines while allowing the lower-facing camera to be used for viewing the ground. In some embodiments, the camera apparatus may be mounted to a drone dampening system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Donald Hutson, Gwendolyn Denise Barriac, Paul Ferrell
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Patent number: 9908618Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may be configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. In various embodiments the repositionable weight may include an electronic component. Various embodiments may include a another balance track configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the other balance track.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20180024570Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed of a device for use on an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) including two or more gimbals, a gimbal processor, an inertial measurement unit, and a communication connection. The two or more gimbals are pivotally coupled to rotate orthogonally relative to each other. An inner gimbal of the two or more gimbals may support an inner platform for receiving components thereon. An outer gimbal of the two or more gimbals may be pivotally coupled to the drone. The gimbal processor is mounted on the inner platform, wherein the gimbal processor is configured to control pivotal movement of the two or more gimbals. The inertial measurement unit may be fixed relative to the inner platform and coupled to the gimbal processor. The communication connection may be coupled to the gimbal processor and configured to exchange signals with the drone for controlling operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2016Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventor: Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20170021915Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may be configured to extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. In various embodiments the repositionable weight may include an electronic component. Various embodiments may include a another balance track configured to extend outwardly from the central region along a second axis that is different from a first axis of the other balance track.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson
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Patent number: 9469394Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. Various embodiments may include receiving a weight-distribution input relating to balancing the drone. A weight-distribution balance profile may be determined, based on the weight-distribution input, for determining whether a repositionable weight should be repositioned among a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions on a balance track extending outwardly from a central region of the drone. The repositionable weight may be repositioned according to the weight-distribution balance profile.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, III, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20160264234Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for adjusting a center of mass of a drone may include a balance track and a repositionable weight. The balance track may extend outwardly from a central region of the drone. The balance track may include a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. The repositionable weight may be configured to be secured at any one of the plurality of weight-balance fixation positions. Various embodiments may include receiving a weight-distribution input relating to balancing the drone. A weight-distribution balance profile may be determined, based on the weight-distribution input, for determining whether a repositionable weight should be repositioned among a plurality of weight-balance fixation positions on a balance track extending outwardly from a central region of the drone. The repositionable weight may be repositioned according to the weight-distribution balance profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Brad Lee Vaughn, Charles Wheeler Sweet, Vincent Kemler, Aine Mary Shivnan, Kaustubh Balkrishna Gondkar, James York Wilson, Michael Franco Taveira, Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20140191117Abstract: A detector system having a single emitter body. The emitter body has a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for emitting a plurality of wavelengths. Each LED adapted to emit a different wavelength of light. A broadband filter is adapted to receive the plurality of wavelengths. A detector arrangement adapted to receive the plurality of wavelengths filtered by the broadband filter. A controller adapted to control the plurality of LEDs and detector arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Wayne Bland, Glenn Price, Donald Hutson
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Publication number: 20070100780Abstract: A hybrid control system for a robot can include a neuronal control portion and a non-neuronal control portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2006Publication date: May 3, 2007Applicant: Neurosciences Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Jason Fleischer, Botond Szatmary, Donald Hutson, Douglas Moore, James Snook, Gerald Edelman, Jeffrey Krichmar
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Publication number: 20070094481Abstract: A special purpose processor (SPP) can use a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or similar programmable device to model a large number of neural elements. The FPGAs can have multiple cores doing presynaptic, postsynaptic, and plasticity calculations in parallel. Each core can implement multiple neural elements of the neural model.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: James Snook, Donald Hutson, Jeffrey Krichmar