Patents by Inventor Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt 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: 10919524
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer system (FTCS) for generating safe trajectories for a vehicle. The FTCS includes: a sensor part (SENSE), a primary part (PRIM), a secondary part (SEC), a tertiary part (TER), and a decide part (DECIDE). The PRIM and TER are configured to produce trajectories by interpreting information of the real world as perceived by the SENSE. The SEC is configured to produce a safe space estimate (FSE) by interpreting information of the real world as perceived by SENSE. The DECIDE and/or SEC are configured to execute correctness checks that take trajectories and FSE as inputs, and qualify a trajectory (TRJ) as safe when said TRJ is inside the FSE, and qualify a trajectory (UTRJ) as unsafe when said UTRJ is not inside the FSE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TTTECH AUTO AG
    Inventors: Stefan Poledna, Eric Schmidt, Georg Niedrist, Stefan Traxler, Hermann Kopetz
  • Patent number: 10920714
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine is described that achieves stable, highly efficient hybrid combustion by having a core flow of fuel-rich gas generator gases, with the flow being surrounded with an annular injection of oxidizer. The fuel-rich gas serves to vaporize and decompose the oxidizer, such as nitrous oxide, and prepare it for effective, stable combustion. In one embodiment, this is done at the head-end of a combustion chamber. The combustion products can then be expanded through a nozzle to create thrust. The engine can be an upper stage engine that can include modular thrust chambers and an integrated aerospike nozzle. The thrust chambers can be arranged in an array that rings the top of the aerospike nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: EXQUADRUM, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Mahaffy, Byron Henning, Korey Robert Kline, Philip Pelfrey, Eric Schmidt, Elias Wilson
  • Publication number: 20210040529
    Abstract: The disclosure provides recombinant cells and methods for producing a ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP), as well as RiPP libraries and methods for producing RiPP libraries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: Eric SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20210016678
    Abstract: A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph HEALY, Wilson SA, Morgan CULBERTSON, Eric SCHMIDT, Roger RICHTER
  • Patent number: 10821853
    Abstract: A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HYLIION INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Healy, Wilson Sa, Morgan Culbertson, Eric Schmidt, Roger Richter
  • Patent number: 10782700
    Abstract: A method for operating a controlled object that is embedded in a changing environment. The controlled object and its environment are periodically observed using sensors. Independent data flow paths (“DFP”) are executed based on the data recorded through the observation of the controlled object and its environment. A first DFP determines a model of the controlled object and the environment of the controlled object and carries out a trajectory planning in order to create possible trajectories that, under the given environmental conditions, correspond to a specified task assignment. A second DFP determines a model of the controlled object and of the environment of the controlled object and determines a safe space-time domain (“SRZD”) in which all safe trajectories must be located. The results of the first and the second DFP are transmitted to a deciding instance to verify whether at least one of the trajectories is safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: TTTECH AUTO AG
    Inventors: Hermann Kopetz, Stefan Poledna, Georg Niedrist, Eric Schmidt, Christopher Helpa
  • Patent number: 10731196
    Abstract: The disclosure provides recombinant cells and methods for producing a ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP), as well as RiPP libraries and methods for producing RiPP libraries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Eric Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10663952
    Abstract: A method for transmitting control commands in a computer system, which includes components at least in the form of nodes, actuators and communication systems, wherein the control commands are communicated over the communication systems from the nodes to the actuators, and wherein one or more of the components may fail to operate according their specification. For consistently accepting control commands at the actuators, the nodes and their control commands are assigned priorities, wherein a node and its control commands have the same priority, wherein at least two priorities are used, wherein a high priority node produces high priority control commands and a low priority node produces low priority control commands, and wherein a high priority node is configured to communicate its control commands over at least two communication systems to the actuators and a low priority node is configured to communicate its low priority control commands over at least one communication system to the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TTTECH COMPUTERTECHNIK AG
    Inventors: Georg Niedrist, Eric Schmidt, Stefan Traxler, Wilfried Steiner
  • Patent number: 10589726
    Abstract: This technology relates to a system for clearing a sensor cover. The system may be comprised of a first wiper and second wiper configured to clear the sensor cover of debris and a motor. The motor may rotate the first wiper and the second wiper in a first direction at a first predetermined rotation rate defined at least in part by a second predetermined rotation rate of a first sensor arranged within the sensor cover. The first wiper and the second wiper may be offset by a predetermined angular distance relative to a center of the sensor cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Ingram, Eric Schmidt, Seth Gilbertson, Nicholas Wiles
  • Patent number: 10571920
    Abstract: A method is provided by which a complex electronic system for controlling a safety-critical technical process, for example driving an autonomous vehicle, can be implemented. A distinction is made between simple and complex software, wherein the simple software is executed on error-tolerant hardware and wherein a plurality of diverse versions of the complex software are implemented simultaneously on independent fault containment units (FCU). A consolidated environmental model is developed from a number of different environmental models and represents the basis for trajectory planning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TTTech Auto AG
    Inventors: Stefan Poledna, Georg Niedrist, Eric Schmidt, Christopher Helpa, Hermann Kopetz
  • Publication number: 20200047979
    Abstract: A child-resistant dispenser includes a housing (110); and a slider (150) disposed on the housing and configured to slide from a closed position to a dispensing position, the slider comprising a movable engagement portion (148) that engages a stop (122) on the housing, wherein the engagement between the movable engagement portion and the stop restricts movement of the slider to the dispensing position and the movable engagement portion is configured to disengage from the stop in response to a release force applied to the slider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: JOSEPH MARTIN, ERIC SCHMIDT, ROBERT G. PETIT
  • Publication number: 20200039729
    Abstract: A child-resistant dispenser includes a housing having a first moveable member disposed on a first side of the housing; and a slider disposed in the housing and configured to slide from a closed position to a dispensing position, the slider comprising a first engagement portion that engages a first stop on the housing, wherein the engagement between the first engagement portion and the first stop restricts movement of the slider to the dispensing position and the first moveable member is configured to disengage the first engagement portion from the first stop in response to a first release force applied to the first moveable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: JOSEPH MARTIN, ERIC SCHMIDT, ROBERT G. PETIT
  • Publication number: 20200015578
    Abstract: A brush head for an electrically driven toothbrush is provided herein. The brush head includes a holding part connected to a carrier part, at least one bristle bundle formed by bristle filaments, and a resiliently soft cleaning element. The carrier part includes passage bores, through which the bristle bundle and resiliently soft cleaning element project, and each is fixed to the carrier part by way of a thickened portion formed by a filament material or a resiliently elastic material, respectively. A method of producing a brush head is also provided, including preparing the carrier part as a separate component with passage bores, fixing the bristle bundle and the resiliently clastic cleaning element to the carrier part with a thickened portion provided on the bristle bundle and the resiliently elastic cleaning element, respectively, and connecting the carrier part to the holding part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: M+C Schiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin BUCHHOLZ, Berthold MEYER, Eric SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10488864
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a controlled object, that is embedded in a changing environment, wherein the controlled object and its environment are periodically observed using sensors, and, in each frame, at least three independent data flow paths (DFPs) are executed based on the data recorded through the observation of the controlled object and its environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TTTech Auto AG
    Inventors: Hermann Kopetz, Stefan Poledna, Georg Niedrist, Eric Schmidt, Christopher Helpa
  • Patent number: 10370192
    Abstract: A conveyor device includes at least three lift columns, a lower conveyor body, and an upper conveyor body. The upper conveyor body is adjustable in its height relative to the lower conveyor body. The lift columns project at least partially above the upper conveyor body without lengthwise supports acting in the transport direction. The upper conveyor body together with one or more cross members on which the upper conveyor body is supported may be formed as a modular unit which is mountable and removable from the conveying system as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Wipotec GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Günther, Kay-Eric Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10359772
    Abstract: An innovative method is provided by which a complex electronic system for controlling a safety-critical technical process, for example driving an autonomous vehicle, can be implemented. A decision is made between simple and complex software, wherein the simple software is implemented on error-tolerant hardware and wherein a plurality of different versions of the complex software are simultaneously implemented in independent fault containment units (FCU) and wherein a result that is to be transmitted to the actuators is selected by a decider from the results of the complex software that is implemented using the simple software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: TTTECH AUTO AG
    Inventors: Stefan Poledna, Georg Niedrist, Eric Schmidt, Christopher Helpa, Hermann Kopetz
  • Patent number: 10342324
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brush including a brush head body which includes a recess through which a bundle of bristles passes, the securing-side end of which is provided by means of a melt process with a thickened portion for securing the bundle of bristles to the brush head body, wherein the brush head body forms a collar which extends up to the thickened portion and circumferentially surrounds the bundle of bristles and which is provided at a distance from a brush head body surface projected over by the bundle of bristles at the use side, and is bonded to the thickened portion by means of a melting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: M+C SCHIFFER GMBH
    Inventor: Eric Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20190194712
    Abstract: The disclosure provides recombinant cells and methods for producing a ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP), as well as RiPP libraries and methods for producing RiPP libraries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: Eric SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20190176817
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer system (FTCS) for generating safe trajectories for a vehicle. The FTCS includes: a sensor part (SENSE), a primary part (PRIM), a secondary part (SEC), a tertiary part (TER), and a decide part (DECIDE). The PRIM and TER are configured to produce trajectories by interpreting information of the real world as perceived by the SENSE. The SEC is configured to produce a safe space estimate (FSE) by interpreting information of the real world as perceived by SENSE. The DECIDE and/or SEC are configured to execute correctness checks that take trajectories and FSE as inputs, and qualify a trajectory (TRJ) as safe when said TRJ is inside the FSE, and qualify a trajectory (UTRJ) as unsafe when said UTRJ is not inside the FSE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Stefan Poledna, Eric Schmidt, Georg Niedrist, Stefan Traxler, Hermann Kopetz
  • Patent number: 10299900
    Abstract: A brush head for an electrically driven toothbrush includes a holding part (2) that provides at least one connecting element for mechanically coupling the brush head to the electric drive of the toothbrush, wherein the holding part (2) integrally forms a stud (4) defining a pivot axis (S) about which the brush head is pivotable, and a plate (6) which at its end facing away from the stud (4) carries at least one bristle bundle (8) which at its attachment-side end includes a thickening (14) formed by surface melting. For improving the brush head, a substantially disc-shaped bristle carrier (10) is connected to a holding part (2) and includes a bore that is penetrated by the bristle bundle (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: M+C SCHIFFER GMBH
    Inventors: Eric Schmidt, Erwin Buchholz