Patents by Inventor Howard W. Speaks, JR.

Howard W. Speaks, JR. 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: 9969480
    Abstract: Various embodiments for measuring and interpreting a vessel operator's intent and control inputs are disclosed. Various stations on a vessel comprise user control devices to receive vessel control commands from a vessel operator in conjunction with associated transducer information capturing physical conditions or attributes of the operator at, or proximate to, one of the user control devices. A processor determines whether the vessel control command was deliberate, based on the physical condition or the attribute captured by the transducer. Upon determination of a valid user control input, the processor optionally performs transformation of the user vessel control command based on an operator identity and vessel environmental factors, and then sends a corresponding control command to one or more vessel physical control devices, such as a rudder or an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Oliver Michaelis, Howard W Speaks, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170158303
    Abstract: Various embodiments for measuring and interpreting a vessel operator's intent and control inputs are disclosed. Various stations on a vessel comprise user control devices to receive vessel control commands from a vessel operator in conjunction with associated transducer information capturing physical conditions or attributes of the operator at, or proximate to, one of the user control devices. A processor determines whether the vessel control command was deliberate, based on the physical condition or the attribute captured by the transducer. Upon determination of a valid user control input, the processor optionally performs transformation of the user vessel control command based on an operator identity and vessel environmental factors, and then sends a corresponding control command to one or more vessel physical control devices, such as a rudder or an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Oliver Michaelis, Howard W. Speaks, JR.