Patents by Inventor Doug Blair

Doug Blair 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).

  • Publication number: 20220327960
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a haptic system of rotating cylindrical shafts topped with caps to create a virtual sensation of Braille text by integrating a microprocessor with microdrive motors. The micro drive's shafts are crowned with plastic cylindrical caps, the top face of which are precisely flush or level with the device's display surface thereby emulating the standard diameter and feel of a Braille dot or Braille space in two dimensions. It is the rotation of the drive's shaft that spins the caps and simulates the sensation of a Braille dot that is felt with the fingertips. This sensation of a two dimensional rotating dot is the result of the top face of the capped shafts positioned flush with the device's display surface. Motors that alternate between rotating shafts and shafts at rest produce Braille cell dots and spaces, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Educational Media Consulting, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Drake, Doug Blair
  • Patent number: 11373548
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a haptic system of rotating cylindrical shafts topped with caps to create a virtual sensation of Braille text by integrating a microprocessor with microdrive motors. The micro drive's shafts are crowned with plastic cylindrical caps, the top face of which are precisely flush or level with the device's display surface thereby emulating the standard diameter and feel of a Braille dot or Braille space in two dimensions. It is the rotation of the drive's shaft that spins the caps and simulates the sensation of a Braille dot that is felt with the fingertips. This sensation of a two dimensional rotating dot is the result of the top face of the capped shafts positioned flush with the device's display surface. Motors that alternate between rotating shafts and shafts at rest produce Braille cell dots and spaces, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: EDUCATIONAL MEDIA CONSULTING, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Drake, Doug Blair
  • Publication number: 20200202745
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a haptic system of rotating cylindrical shafts topped with caps to create a virtual sensation of Braille text by integrating a microprocessor with microdrive motors. The micro drive's shafts are crowned with plastic cylindrical caps, the top face of which are precisely flush or level with the device's display surface thereby emulating the standard diameter and feel of a Braille dot or Braille space in two dimensions. It is the rotation of the drive's shaft that spins the caps and simulates the sensation of a Braille dot that is felt with the fingertips. This sensation of a two dimensional rotating dot is the result of the top face of the capped shafts positioned flush with the device's display surface. Motors that alternate between rotating shafts and shafts at rest produce Braille cell dots and spaces, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Educational Media Consulting, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Drake, Doug Blair
  • Patent number: 10393627
    Abstract: A chock assembly for a vehicle test rig includes a guide member, a chock, and a securing member. The chock is coupled to the guide member, and the securing member is configured to secure the guide member to the vehicle test rig. The guide member is movably coupled to the securing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Mickey Kevin Etches, Doug Blair
  • Publication number: 20190139451
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a haptic system of rotating cylindrical shafts topped with caps to create a virtual sensation of Braille text by integrating a microprocessor with microdrive motors. The micro drive's shafts are crowned with plastic cylindrical caps, the top face of which are precisely flush or level with the device's display surface thereby emulating the standard diameter and feel of a Braille dot or Braille space in two dimensions. It is the rotation of the drive's shaft that spins the caps and simulates the sensation of a Braille dot that is felt with the fingertips. This sensation of a two dimensional rotating dot is the result of the top face of the capped shafts positioned flush with the device's display surface. Motors that alternate between rotating shafts and shafts at rest produce Braille cell dots and spaces, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: 62542530
    Inventors: Gerald Drake, Doug Blair
  • Publication number: 20180003590
    Abstract: A chock assembly for a vehicle test rig includes a guide member, a chock, and a securing member. The chock is coupled to the guide member, and the securing member is configured to secure the guide member to the vehicle test rig. The guide member is movably coupled to the securing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company Limited
    Inventors: Mickey Kevin Etches, Doug Blair