Patents by Inventor Eric A. Gifford
Eric A. Gifford 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: 11099469Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for an ultra-short throw projector. The projector may include an illuminator having an ellipsoidal reflector, a light emitting diode (LED) positioned inside of the ellipsoidal reflector, and a Fresnel lens positioned inside of the ellipsoidal reflector. The projector may include a circular transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) and a three-element plastic projection lens positioned outside of the ellipsoidal reflector, wherein the circular transmissive LCD is positioned between the ellipsoidal reflector and the three-element plastic projection lens, wherein the ellipsoidal reflector reflects light emitted by the LED, wherein the Fresnel lens refracts light emitted by the LED, and wherein the three-element plastic projection lens projects the reflected light and the refracted light.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gareth James Selfe, Eric Gifford Marason, Suchit Shah, Robert Domingo Lau, John Larkin, Mark Steven Pearson
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Patent number: 10620913Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for portable voice assistant devices with linear lighting elements. In one embodiment, an example device may include a housing having a first portion and a second portion, an elongated light bar disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and a first LED disposed within the housing. Example devices may include a reflector component configured to reflect light towards the elongated light bar, and a diffuser positioned adjacent to the elongated light bar. The diffuser may include a first curved portion and a flat portion, and the first curved portion may be substantially aligned with the first LED.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jacob William Beatty, Emeka Godswill Ugwu, Josue Jean Rodriguez, Eric Gifford Marason, Miguel Virgen, Jordan Pine
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Patent number: 10609350Abstract: Devices and techniques are generally described for multi-band projection of image data. In various examples, image data may be identified. In some examples, first image data of a first frequency may be generated from the image data. In some examples, second image data of a second frequency may be generated from the image data. In various examples, the first frequency may be higher than the second frequency. In some examples, a first image may be projected onto a projection surface using a raster projector. In an example, the first image may correspond to the first image data. In further examples, a second image may be projected onto the projection surface overlaying the first image. In various other examples, projecting the second image onto the projection surface may be performed using a lamp-based projector. In some examples, the second image may correspond to the second image data.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Ilya Vladimirovich Brailovskiy, Eric Gifford Marason, Evangelos Pappas-Katsiafas, Ali Shahrokni
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Publication number: 20190171413Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for portable voice assistant devices with linear lighting elements. In one embodiment, an example device may include a housing having a first portion and a second portion, an elongated light bar disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and a first LED disposed within the housing. Example devices may include a reflector component configured to reflect light towards the elongated light bar, and a diffuser positioned adjacent to the elongated light bar. The diffuser may include a first curved portion and a flat portion, and the first curved portion may be substantially aligned with the first LED.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2017Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jacob William Beatty, Emeka Godswill Ugwu, Josue Jean Rodriguez, Eric Gifford Marason, Miguel Virgen, Jordan Pine
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Patent number: 10295721Abstract: Various approaches discussed herein enable techniques for adjusting color temperature value of illumination, for example with regard to electrophoretic ink display screens. A plurality of one type of LEDs are positioned along an injection line of a light guide panel, and are interleaved with a plurality of another type of LED positioned along the injection line. By controlling the current supplied to each group of LEDs, a color temperature value of light directed onto a display screen from the light guide panel may be adjusted to remove or reduce blue aspects.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Eric Gifford Marason, Miguel Virgen, Christopher Dwight Barnes
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Patent number: 10288797Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for structural alignment features for light emitting diode arrays. In one embodiment, a device may include a light guide with a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a third surface perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. The device may include a light emitting diode array with a first set of light emitting diodes arranged in a first row and a second set of light emitting diodes arranged in a second row. The first set of light emitting diodes may be optically and physically coupled to the first surface, and the second set of light emitting diodes may be optically coupled to the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, Eric Gifford Marason, Weihsin Hou, Juho Ilkka Jalava
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Patent number: 10288996Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for display sheets with angled mirror surfaces. In one embodiment, an example display sheet may include a first layer and a plastic layer coupled to the first layer. The plastic layer may include a first portion with a first set of mirrors embossed on a surface of the plastic layer, where the first set of mirrors comprises a first tilt angle and a first roll angle. The plastic layer may include a second portion with a second set of mirrors embossed on the surface, where the second set of mirrors comprises a second tilt angle and a second roll angle. The display sheet may be configured to reflect light in a horizontal field of view and a vertical field of view with respect to a projector positioned to direct light at the display sheet.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Gifford Marason, Tero Johannes Tuohioja, Juho Ilkka Jalava, Miguel Virgen
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Patent number: 10241377Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for self-healing flexible electrophoretic displays and related devices. In one embodiment, an example flexible electrophoretic display may include a flexible plastic thin film transistor (TFT) backplane having a first width, an electrophoretic layer coupled to the flexible plastic TFT backplane, an electrode layer coupled to the electrophoretic layer, an integrated circuit disposed on the flexible plastic TFT backplane, and a protective sheet having a second width that is greater than or equal to the first width.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ming Wang, Weihsin Hou, Anoop Menon, Robert Arthur Sprague, Eric Gifford Marason, Yuyan Hua, Shan Cheng
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Publication number: 20190086760Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for self-healing flexible electrophoretic displays and related devices. In one embodiment, an example flexible electrophoretic display may include a flexible plastic thin film transistor (TFT) backplane having a first width, an electrophoretic layer coupled to the flexible plastic TFT backplane, an electrode layer coupled to the electrophoretic layer, an integrated circuit disposed on the flexible plastic TFT backplane, and a protective sheet having a second width that is greater than or equal to the first width.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2017Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Ming Wang, Weihsin Hou, Anoop Menon, Robert Arthur Sprague, Eric Gifford Marason, Yuyan Hua, Shan Cheng
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Patent number: 10178318Abstract: A self-imaging device, which may lack an active visual display, has an alignment indicator that a person can view to determine when he or she is positioned properly in front of the self-imaging device. The indicator comprises a lenticular lens panel having lenses that are positioned over respectively corresponding graphical patterns. Depending on the configuration of the graphical patterns, the lens panel projects different composite images in different directions. When the person is properly aligned, the person will observe a composite image that indicates alignment. When the person is not properly aligned, the person will observe a composite image that indicates non-alignment. The graphical patterns are illuminated by a light guide, which is a panel that distributes light across the graphical patterns.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Eric Gifford Marason
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Patent number: 9971151Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for mountable clear displays and projection systems. In one embodiment, a system may include a mirror surface and a transparent display sheet adhered to the mirror surface. The transparent display sheet may include a blue phosphor layer that absorbs light having the first wavelength and emits light having a fourth wavelength of about 460 nm, a green phosphor layer that absorbs light having the second wavelength and emits light having a fifth wavelength of about 530 nm, a red phosphor layer that absorbs light having the third wavelength and emits light having a sixth wavelength of about 625 nm, and a blue light blocking layer attached to the red phosphor layer of the transparent display sheet, the blue light blocking layer configured to absorb blue light passing through the transparent display sheet.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Gifford Marason, Robert Arthur Sprague, Suchit Shreyas Shah, Omar Sze Leung, Miguel Virgen
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Patent number: 9746752Abstract: In some examples, a projection display surface is configured to reflect a first image or image portion in a first direction and a second image or image portion in a second direction. In some cases, first light corresponding to the first image is projected onto a display surface that includes a first plurality of reflectors configured to reflect the first light in a first direction, but not reflect second light corresponding to the second image. The display surface may further include a second plurality of reflectors to reflect the second light in a second direction, but not reflect the first light. In some examples, the first light is within a first wavelength range and the second light is within a second, different wavelength range. In other examples, the first light has a first polarization and the second light has a second, different polarization.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert Allan Yuan, Kebin Sylvia Wu, Eric Gifford Marason, Juli Anna Maria Satoh, Isabella Talley Lewis
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Patent number: 9683927Abstract: Improvements in and relating to devices for receiving liquid samples A device for receiving a liquid sample may form part of a micro sampling head for an instrument such as a spectrophotometer. The device receives a liquid sample to be analyzed by a process involving the passing of electromagnetic radiation through the sample, and comprises a light inlet guide (20) for directing electromagnetic radiation into the sample, a light receiving element (23) situated in an opposed relationship to the guide and spaced from the guide by a fixed distance to define a fixed path length gap (21), which is, in use, filled with the sample. In use, radiation is passed from the light inlet guide to the light receiving element (23), and the path length of radiation through the sample is defined by the gap (23). The device is open or openable to allow a droplet of sample to be deposited directly in the gap.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Biochrom LimitedInventor: Graham Eric Gifford
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Patent number: 9557630Abstract: A projection system projects images onto a surface as part of an augmented reality environment. Users may interact with the images and this interaction is captured as feedback to the system. The projection system includes a refractive beam steerer to direct the projected images onto specific surfaces within the environment, even if the surfaces are moved about the area. The beam steerer has multiple wedge-shaped prisms that are independently movable to steer the projected light beam as desired. Additionally, an infrared (IR) device may be used to illuminate the environment with IR light, and the IR light may be emitted along a common optical path through the refractive beam steerer as used by the projected light beam.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Gifford Marason, Miguel Virgen, Christopher David Coley
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Patent number: 9465988Abstract: An electronic device including an illuminator and a camera configured for performing iris recognition while the user holds the device. The lens of the camera comprises four molded plastic elements with eight aspheric surfaces at a total thickness of only 3.4 mm that provides a mildly distorted image 1.2 mm across. The relative aperture is 3.5 with a fixed focal distance, providing a depth-of-field spanning a fixed focus region of at least 10 cm in depth that is 25 to 35 cm (centimeters) from the eye. The illuminator comprises a near-IR LED in a Cassegrain telescope configuration for efficient directing of flux toward the eye, thereby conserving device volume and electric energy use.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Eric Gifford Marason, Serkan Hatipoglu, Miguel Virgen
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Patent number: 9332181Abstract: An f-theta lens system for a camera that provides a wide field-of-view, relatively low distortion, and a compact footprint. The lens system comprises four molded plastic elements with seven aspheric surfaces. Within a total thickness of 2.5 millimeters, the system is able to provide an image that is 1.2 millimeters across with a horizontal field of view of 127 degrees. The images produced by the system are well-suited for use with conventional face tracking algorithms designed to process rectilinear images produced by cameras with a narrower field of view.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric Gifford Marason, Miguel Virgen
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Patent number: 9277137Abstract: Two or more imagers having associated frame rates are each configured with a global shutter having an exposure interval less than a frame interval. The exposure interval for a first imager is offset from the exposure interval of a second imager such that the first imager is exposed while the second imager is not exposed. When interleaved, an effective frame rate exceeds the individual frame rates provided by the individual imagers. This interleaved imaging system may be used to recover, at high frame rates, images that are projected from spatial light modulators.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher David Coley, William Thomas Weatherford, Robert Allan Yuan, Eric Gifford Marason
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Patent number: 9110364Abstract: A directive projection screen is configured to present images projected from a remote projector in three dimensions (3D) to a viewer. The screen includes a plurality of passive optical elements arranged on a structural substrate. The optical elements are configured to receive incident light projected from the projector and reflect the light such that first portions of the image are directed in a first direction to be viewed by a first eye of the viewer and second portions of the image are directed in a second direction to be viewed by a second eye of the viewer.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Rawles LLCInventors: Christopher David Coley, Eric Gifford Marason
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Patent number: 9046756Abstract: Directive projection screens described herein are configured to selectively direct incident light depending upon an angle of incidence of the light. Such direction improves projection screen gain. Incident light within an acceptance cone is configured to be presented to a viewer. Light outside of the acceptance cone is directed away from the user or absorbed. As a result of this selectivity and the gain, presentation of images on the directive projection screen is improved in the presence of non-projector light sources.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Rawles LLCInventors: Eric Gifford Marason, William Thomas Weatherford
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Patent number: D729662Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Biochrom LtdInventor: Graham Eric Gifford