Patents by Inventor Eric A. Lee

Eric A. Lee 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: 10684038
    Abstract: A method of using a server to update stored control schedules for environmental controllers includes communicating with an environmental controller that controls, during a monitoring period, an environmental system in an enclosure according to a stored control schedule; receiving a first immediate-control input provided through the environmental controller during the monitoring period; receiving a first control-schedule change provided through the environmental controller during the monitoring period; receiving a second immediate-control input provided through a user device during the monitoring period; receiving a second control-schedule change provided through the user device during the monitoring period; processing at least the first immediate-control input, the first control-schedule change, the second immediate-control input, and the second control-schedule change together to generate an updated control schedule; and causing the environmental controller to control the environmental system according to th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 10316446
    Abstract: A strength member sewing machine is provided which comprises upper and lower feeder spools, a collection spool and idlers positioned on a support structure. A cord supply, a fabric shaper, a speed control and a pressure foot lift are positioned on the structure. Fabric from the spools is kept in tension with the idlers while moving toward the fabric shaper. The fabric from the upper spool is crimped while the fabric from the lower spool remains flat underneath the shaper. Between the fabric layers, pull cords are pulled through from the cord supply thru the fabric shaper. The fabric with crimps and with the pull cords inside the crimps is sewn to the fabric from the lower spool to create casings with a pull cord in the internal space of each casing. The joined fabrics with the pull cords are collected by the collection spool as a finished product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Kroger, Brian K. Amaral, Robert F. Cutler, III, Michael R. Williams, Charles A. Holicker, Eric A. Lee, Jason R. Bernier, Kathryn A. Best
  • Patent number: 10175668
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently controlling energy-consuming systems, such as heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. For example, an electronic device used to control an HVAC system may encourage a user to select energy-efficient temperature setpoints. Based on the selected temperature setpoints, the electronic device may generate or modify a schedule of temperature setpoints to control the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Michael Plitkins, Michael James Matas, Matthew Lee Rogers, Evan J. Fisher, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, IV, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Publication number: 20190003736
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 10078319
    Abstract: HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, David Sloo, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 10012405
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Publication number: 20170045864
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently controlling energy-consuming systems, such as heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. For example, an electronic device used to control an HVAC system may encourage a user to select energy-efficient temperature setpoints. Based on the selected temperature setpoints, the electronic device may generate or modify a schedule of temperature setpoints to control the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Michael Plitkins, Michael James Matas, Matthew Lee Rogers, Evan J. Fisher, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, IV, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 9459018
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently controlling energy-consuming systems, such as heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. For example, an electronic device used to control an HVAC system may encourage a user to select energy-efficient temperature setpoints. Based on the selected temperature setpoints, the electronic device may generate or modify a schedule of temperature setpoints to control the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Michael Plitkins, Michael James Matas, Matthew Lee Rogers, Evan J. Fisher, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, IV, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Publication number: 20160139582
    Abstract: HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, David Sloo, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 9256230
    Abstract: HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthey L. Rogers, David Sloo, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Publication number: 20150241079
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 9020646
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Publication number: 20140316581
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently controlling energy-consuming systems, such as heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. For example, an electronic device used to control an HVAC system may encourage a user to select energy-efficient temperature setpoints. Based on the selected temperature setpoints, the electronic device may generate or modify a schedule of temperature setpoints to control the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: NEST LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Michael Plitkins, Michael James Matas, Matthew Lee Rogers, Evan J. Fisher, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, IV, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Publication number: 20140195012
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Publication number: 20140058567
    Abstract: HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, David Sloo, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 8630740
    Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Eric A. Lee, Steven A. Hales, Mark D. Stefanski, Rangoli Sharan
  • Patent number: 7062004
    Abstract: A scheme for reducing jitter in high-speed digital communication by adaptively controlling the loop bandwidth of a receiver PLL to reduce the relative jitter between the recovered data and clock. The scheme uses phase pointer activity to represent the relative jitter. The phase pointer activity is measured and used to control the receiver PLL loop bandwidth. The receiver PLL loop bandwidth is repeatedly incremented or decremented by a step size based on the comparison between a newly measured activity value and the old activity value, until the phase pointer activity reaches a minimum. Because the PLL performance requirement of the transmitter can be relaxed, compatibility with legacy transmitters and multi-vendor transmitters is enhanced. Because tight control of fabrication process parameters of PLLs may be relaxed, the fabrication yield may also be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Silicon Image, Inc.
    Inventors: Gyudong Kim, Min-Kyu Kim, Ook Kim, Eric A. Lee, Bruce Kim
  • Patent number: 5878375
    Abstract: A data switch for transferring data from either actual line readings or from stored memory to the input of a relay tester. The device uses a digital switch set between the A/D converter and the CPU of an electronic relay. The switch permits technicians and engineers to either pass data to the CPU from the system through the A/D converter or, by switching, feed the CPU data from the RAM, which has been loaded with the archived data. In this way, the relay system software can be examined and tested using actual event data under ordinary conditions as desired, with relay settings changed between tests to verify the efficacy of the changed settings to perform as desired for the recorded conditions. The digital switch can be either a hard-wired element, or can be a soft switch, operated through software instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventors: Timothy T. Newton, Eric A. Lee