Patents by Inventor James O'Brien

James O'Brien 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).

  • Firearm handguard
    Patent number: 10260838
    Abstract: A firearm handguard is disclosed. The handguard comprises a first side section, a second side section coupled to the first side section by a plurality of interlocking fingers, and a bottom section coupled to the first side section and the second side section. The first side section and the second side section each contain at least one accessory mounting aperture. The first side section and the second side section are comprised of a polymer material having molded therein a reinforcement liner including at least one reinforcement aperture. The at least one accessory mounting aperture is aligned with the at least one reinforcement aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Bravo Company MFG, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Kincel, Jeffrey James O'Brien
  • AERIAL VEHICLE SENSOR POSITIONING
    Publication number: 20190104297
    Abstract: Described is an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), that includes a plurality of sensors, such as stereo cameras, mounted along a perimeter frame of the aerial vehicle and arranged to generate a scene that surrounds the aerial vehicle. The sensors may be mounted in or on winglets of the perimeter frame. Each of the plurality of sensors has a field of view and the plurality of optical sensors are arranged and/or oriented such that their fields of view overlap with one another throughout a continuous space that surrounds the perimeter frame. The fields of view may also include a portion of the perimeter frame or space that is adjacent to the perimeter frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Taylor David Grenier, Louis Leroi LeGrand, III, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Ricky Dean Welsh
  • APPROXIMATING MESH DEFORMATIONS FOR CHARACTER RIGS
    Publication number: 20190073826
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for approximating mesh deformations for character rigs are disclosed. An embodiment includes applying a first deformation function to one or more mesh elements to determine an intermediate position based on a transform to a first structural element, wherein the one or more mesh elements are assigned to the first structural element, generating an offset based on a second deformation function for the one or more mesh elements using a deformation function approximation model, wherein the offset is a positional offset of the one or more mesh elements from the intermediate position to a target position corresponding to the transform applied to the first structural element, and generating a combined mesh deformation for the one or more mesh elements by combining the intermediate position and the offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: DreamWorks Animation LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Bailey, Paul DiLorenzo, David Otte, James O'Brien
  • Detection of transparent elements using reflective disparities
    Patent number: 10196141
    Abstract: A method, device, and system for detecting transparent elements in a vehicle environment are described. In some examples, this may include accessing a first image depicting a scene. The first image may include a first polarization characteristic. A second image depicting the scene may also be accessed. The second image may include a second polarization characteristic. It may be determined that the scene includes an element having transparent properties based at least in part on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Barry James O'Brien
  • Drone marker and landing zone verification
    Patent number: 10198955
    Abstract: Techniques for verifying a location and identification of a landing marker to aid an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload to a location may be provided. For example, upon receiving an indication that a UAV has arrived to a delivery location, a server computer may process one or more images of an area that are provided by the UAV and/or a user interacting with a user device. A landing marker may be identified in the image and a representation of the landing marker along with instructions to guide the UAV to deliver the payload to the landing marker may be transmitted to the UAV and implemented by the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Processing images to remove precipitation
    Patent number: 10182225
    Abstract: Images captured by a camera system can be processed to detect precipitation in one or more of the images, and to generate a reconstructed image(s) without the precipitation, or with a reduced amount of the precipitation. Detection of precipitation can be based on a difference between a first feature in a first image and a second feature in a second image that corresponds to the first feature, where the first and second images were captured by different cameras at different times. A determination as to whether precipitation is present in the first image and the second image can be based at least in part on a disparity between the first feature and the second feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson
  • Location marker with lights
    Patent number: 10176722
    Abstract: A location marker that may be used to provide information to a vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The location marker may include a plurality of lights that may be individually sequenced on and off at different times to create a time domain signal sequence that is readable by the vehicle. The lights may provide information in various different ways. The specific lights that are illuminated at a certain time may form a light pattern that includes or is associated with information. Different light patterns may be displayed over time to provide different information to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the amount of time that a light is on or off (or both) may provide information as a time domain signal sequence (e.g., flashing lights) to the vehicle. In various embodiments, the location marker may include retroreflectors arranged in a pattern used to identify the location marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Aerial vehicle optical sensor configuration
    Patent number: 10165256
    Abstract: Described is an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), that includes a plurality of sensors, such as stereo cameras, mounted along a perimeter frame of the aerial vehicle and arranged to generate a scene that surrounds the aerial vehicle. The sensors may be mounted in or on winglets of the perimeter frame. Each of the plurality of sensors has a field of view and the plurality of optical sensors are arranged and/or oriented such that their fields of view overlap with one another throughout a continuous space that surrounds the perimeter frame. The fields of view may also include a portion of the perimeter frame or space that is adjacent to the perimeter frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor David Grenier, Louis LeRoi LeGrand, III, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Ricky Dean Welsh
  • Precomputing data for an interactive system having discrete control inputs
    Patent number: 10147220
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes accessing a plurality of sets of outputs for an interactive animation, with each set of outputs being associated with a different sequence of a plurality of sequences of discrete control inputs, and with each set of outputs comprising an output that provides a stored portion of the animation; and transmitting, to a client device, information indicative of at least one of the plurality of sets of outputs for the animation and the output that provides the stored portion of the animation, which when rendered by the client device causes the animation to be presented to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Matthew Stanton, Adrien Treuille, Kayvon Fatahalian, James O'Brien, Ben Humberston, Brandon Kase
  • Firearm handguard assembly
    Patent number: 10126094
    Abstract: A firearm handguard assembly system is disclosed. The system comprises a handguard including at least four apertures, a barrel nut having a first threaded end and a second smooth end, the threaded end coupled to the handguard, and an index block including at least four apertures, the index block coupled to the handguard by at least four screws, each screw having a head and a tip, the tip threaded through: one of the at least four apertures on the index block, and one of the at least four apertures on the handguard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: BRAVO COMPANY MFG, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Kincel, Jeffrey James O'Brien
  • DETERMINING STEREO DISTANCE INFORMATION USING IMAGING DEVICES INTEGRATED INTO PROPELLER BLADES
    Publication number: 20180324403
    Abstract: A propeller provided on an aerial vehicle may include a digital camera or other imaging device embedded into a surface of one of the blades of the propeller. The digital camera may capture images while the propeller is rotating at an operational speed. Images captured by the digital camera may be processed to recognize one or more objects therein, and to determine ranges to such objects by stereo triangulation techniques. Using such ranges, a depth map or other model of the surface features in an environment in which the aerial vehicle is operating may be defined and stored or used for any purpose. A propeller may include digital cameras or other imaging devices embedded into two or more blades, and may also use such images to determine ranges to objects by stereo triangulation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Drone location signature filters
    Patent number: 10121117
    Abstract: Techniques for providing a verification of a flight path or landing zone may be provided. For example, during delivery an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may capture one or more images of a plurality of delivery locations within an area. A computer system may generate one or more image templates or filters using the one or more images and subsequently use the image filters to verify a flight path or landing zone for a delivery by the UAV during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • System for configuring a robotic device for moving items
    Patent number: 10099381
    Abstract: Described are techniques for storing and retrieving items using a robotic device for moving items. Any combinations of image data depicting a manipulator interacting with an item, sensor data from sensors instrumenting the manipulator or item, item data regarding characteristics of the item, and constraint data relating to characteristics of the robotic device may be used to generate one or more configurations for the robotic device. The configurations may include points of contact and force vectors for contacting the item using the robotic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Pradeep Krishna Yarlagadda, Cédric Philippe Charles Jean Ghislain Archambeau, James Christopher Curlander, Michael Donoser, Ralf Herbrich, Barry James O'Brien, Marshall Friend Tappen
  • Light adjustment control for cameras of an aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 10086956
    Abstract: This disclosure describes an aerial vehicle that includes a light alteration assembly that may be used to alter light entering a lens of a camera of the aerial vehicle. The light alteration assembly may include an adjustable visor and/or filters that may be selectively positioned over the lens of the camera. By altering light entering the lens of a camera of the aerial vehicle, the camera is able to obtain higher quality images of the area surrounding the aerial vehicle. The higher quality images may then be processed to accurately detect objects within a vicinity of the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson
  • Obstacle awareness based guidance to clear landing space
    Patent number: 10049589
    Abstract: Techniques for providing an object awareness guidance to clear a landing space may be provided. For example, during delivery an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may capture an image of a potential landing zone and identify one or more objects in the image that may impede or obstruct delivery of the item in the potential landing zone. The UAV may be configured to generate and provide instructions to a user device to move or remove the identified one or more objects from the potential landing zone thereby creating a safe and unobstructed landing zone to deliver the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Determining stereo distance information using imaging devices integrated into propeller blades
    Patent number: 10033980
    Abstract: A propeller provided on an aerial vehicle may include a digital camera or other imaging device embedded into a surface of one of the blades of the propeller. The digital camera may capture images while the propeller is rotating at an operational speed. Images captured by the digital camera may be processed to recognize one or more objects therein, and to determine ranges to such objects by stereo triangulation techniques. Using such ranges, a depth map or other model of the surface features in an environment in which the aerial vehicle is operating may be defined and stored or used for any purpose. A propeller may include digital cameras or other imaging devices embedded into two or more blades, and may also use such images to determine ranges to objects by stereo triangulation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle sensor calibration during flight
    Patent number: 10032275
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for automating the verification of aerial vehicle sensors as part of a pre-flight, flight departure, in-transit flight, and/or delivery destination calibration verification process. At different stages, aerial vehicle sensors may obtain sensor measurements about objects within an environment, the obtained measurements may be processed to determine information about the object, as presented in the measurements, and the processed information may be compared with the actual information about the object to determine a variation or difference between the information. If the variation is within a tolerance range, the sensor may be auto adjusted and operation of the aerial vehicle may continue. If the variation exceeds a correction range, flight of the aerial vehicle may be aborted and the aerial vehicle routed for a full sensor calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua John Watson, Benjamin Griffin Novak, Barry James O'Brien, Scott Michael Wilcox, Benjamin Israel Caro, Scott Patrick Boyd
  • Location marker with retroreflectors
    Patent number: 10032384
    Abstract: A location marker that may be used to provide information to a vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The location marker may include a plurality of retroreflectors that may form a pattern readable by a vehicle or other device. The pattern may be read to extract an identifier of a location, such as an address or an identifier of a person. A global positioning system (GPS) device may transmit a general location of the location marker to the vehicle, while the location marker may provide a unique visual location identifier to a device within visual range of the location marker. In some embodiments, the location marker may also include lights that may be individually sequenced on and off at different times to create a time domain signal sequence that is readable by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
  • COMBINED INFORMATION FOR OBJECT DETECTION AND AVOIDANCE
    Publication number: 20180194489
    Abstract: Described is an imaging component for use by an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) for object detection. As described, the imaging component includes one or more cameras that are configured to obtain images of a scene using visible light that are converted into a depth map (e.g., stereo image) and one or more other cameras that are configured to form images, or thermograms, of the scene using infrared radiation (“IR”). The depth information and thermal information are combined to form a representation of the scene based on both depth and thermal information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Raymond Harris, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson
  • Firearm handguard
    Patent number: D844091
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Bravo Company MFG, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Kincel, Jeffrey James O'Brien