Patents by Inventor Joshua R. Smith

Joshua R. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20190116078
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient RF backscatter transceivers, and methods for communicating using MIMO and spread spectrum coding of backscattered ambient RF signals are described. An example system may include an ambient RF backscatter transceiver that include an antenna configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal, and a receiver coupled to the antenna. The receiver may be configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal using one of multiple input, multiple output multiplexing demodulation or spread spectrum code demodulation to retrieve the first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal may be generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal may be configured to provide other data at a second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Aaron N. Parks, Angli Liu
  • Patent number: 10187177
    Abstract: Example devices described herein include endpoint devices which may communicate with an access point device by modulating a channel associated with the wireless communication to encode transmit data. The channel modulation may be performed by utilizing a switch to control an impedance of an antenna at the endpoint device to either reflect or absorb wireless network communication signals received by the endpoint device. The access point device may extract the transmit data by decoding changes in the channel caused, at least in part, by the modulation. Access point devices may transmit a pattern of packets—the presence or absence of which may correspond with transmit data. Endpoint devices may decode this data by using an energy detector to differentiate between the presence or absence of a packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, David Wetherall, Bryce Kellogg, Aaron N. Parks
  • Patent number: 10187241
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient RF backscatter transceivers, and methods for communicating using MIMO and spread spectrum coding of backscattered ambient RF signals are described. An example system may include an ambient RF backscatter transceiver that include an antenna configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal, and a receiver coupled to the antenna. The receiver may be configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal using one of multiple input, multiple output multiplexing demodulation or spread spectrum code demodulation to retrieve the first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal may be generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal may be configured to provide other data at a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Aaron N. Parks, Angli Liu
  • Publication number: 20180375703
    Abstract: Examples described herein include devices and systems utilizing backscatter communication to generate transmissions in accordance with wireless communication protocols. Examples are described including single sideband operation, generation of a carrier wave using Bluetooth, downlink communication to a backscatter device, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Bryce Kellogg, Joshua R. Smith, Shyamnath Gollakota, Vamsi Talla, Vikram S. Iyer
  • Publication number: 20180358996
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient backscatter transceivers, and methods for modulating a backscatter of an ambient RF signal are described. An example system may include an ambient backscatter transceiver comprising an antenna that is configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal. The ambient backscatter transceiver is configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal to retrieve first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal is generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal is encoded with modulated to provide second data at a second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Vincent Liu, Aaron N. Parks, Vamsi Talla
  • Publication number: 20180241604
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient RF backscatter transceivers, and methods for communicating using MIMO and spread spectrum coding of backscattered ambient RF signals are described. An example system may include an ambient RF backscatter transceiver that include an antenna configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal, and a receiver coupled to the antenna. The receiver may be configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal using one of multiple input, multiple output multiplexing demodulation or spread spectrum code demodulation to retrieve the first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal may be generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal may be configured to provide other data at a second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Aaron N. Parks, Angli Liu
  • Patent number: 10033424
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient backscatter transceivers, and methods for modulating a backscatter of an ambient RF signal are described. An example system may include an ambient backscatter transceiver comprising an antenna that is configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal. The ambient backscatter transceiver is configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal to retrieve first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal is generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal is encoded with modulated to provide second data at a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Vincent Liu, Aaron N. Parks, Vamsi Talla
  • Patent number: 9979240
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for multiband harvesting. An example system may include a single wideband antenna followed by several narrowband rectifier chains. Each rectifier chain may include a bandpass filter, a tuned impedance matching network, and a rectifier. The outputs of the rectifiers may be combined using a summation network. The summation network, which may be a diode summation network, may in some examples provide good performance even when only a subset of the narrowband harvesters (e.g. a subset of the rectifier chains) is excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Aaron N. Parks, Joshua R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9973367
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient RF backscatter transceivers, and methods for communicating using MIMO and spread spectrum coding of backscattered ambient RF signals are described. An example system may include an ambient RF backscatter transceiver that include an antenna configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal, and a receiver coupled to the antenna. The receiver may be configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal using one of multiple input, multiple output multiplexing demodulation or spread spectrum code demodulation to retrieve the first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal may be generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal may be configured to provide other data at a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Aaron N. Parks, Angli Liu
  • Publication number: 20170331509
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient backscatter transceivers, and methods for modulating a backscatter of an ambient RF signal are described. An example system may include an ambient backscatter transceiver comprising an antenna that is configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal. The ambient backscatter transceiver is configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal to retrieve first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal is generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal is encoded with modulated to provide second data at a second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Vincent Liu, Aaron N. Parks, Vamsi Talla
  • Publication number: 20170317529
    Abstract: A wireless power transfer system (100) includes a transmitter (110) configured to transmit power to a receiver (120), for example, through coupled resonators (111,121). The transmitter receives feedback from the receiver, and uses the feedback to control the power transmission, to control a parameter at the receiver, for example, a rectified voltage output by the receiver. The feedback to the transmitter may be provided, for example, by an out-of-band radio system (117, 126) between the transmitter and receiver, by a reflection coefficient at the transmitter (116), and/or by an encoded modulation of power in the receiver, for example, in an impedance matching module (121). The transmitter may control the transmitted power, for example, by controlling a transmitter signal generator voltage (VSIG), a transmitter gate driver voltage (VGD), a transmitter amplifier voltage (VpA), and/or an impedance setting in a transmitter impedance matching module (111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Joshua R. Smith, Benjamin Waters
  • Publication number: 20170208597
    Abstract: Examples described herein include wireless transmitters configured for power transmission. Example wireless transmitters may insert power packets into wireless communications such that power harvesting circuitry may harvest sufficiently continuous power from the wireless communication signals. Example power harvesting circuitry is configured to harvest power across multiple wireless communication channels. Example chargers are described which may harvest power from wireless communication signals (e.g. Wi-Fi signals).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Vamsi Talla, Bryce Kellogg, Ben Ransford, Saman Naderiparizi, Joshua R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9692260
    Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, devices and methods are disclosed that include measuring, at a transmitter, a reflected power level corresponding to a specific transmit power level, and setting the transmit power to an operational level. At the transmitter, a new operational level of the transmit power may be determined, for example, by selecting at least one trial transmit power level, and based on reflected power levels measured corresponding to the operational level and the at least one trial level of the transmit power, either maintaining the operational level as the new operational level, or determining the at least one trial level as the new operational level. The operational transmit power level may correspond to a lowest reflected power level, or a highest rate of change of the reflected power level with respect to the transmit power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jim Walsh, Joshua R. Smith, Issy Kipnis, Gamil A. Cain
  • Publication number: 20170180178
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient RF backscatter transceivers, and methods for communicating using MIMO and spread spectrum coding of backscattered ambient RF signals are described. An example system may include an ambient RF backscatter transceiver that include an antenna configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal, and a receiver coupled to the antenna. The receiver may be configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal using one of multiple input, multiple output multiplexing demodulation or spread spectrum code demodulation to retrieve the first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal may be generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal may be configured to provide other data at a second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: SHYAMNATH GOLLAKOTA, Joshua R. Smith, Aaron N. Parks, Angli Liu
  • Publication number: 20170180075
    Abstract: Example devices described herein include endpoint devices which may communicate with an access point device by modulating a channel associated with the wireless communication to encode transmit data. The channel modulation may be performed by utilizing a switch to control an impedance of an antenna at the endpoint device to either reflect or absorb wireless network communication signals received by the endpoint device. The access point device may extract the transmit data by decoding changes in the channel caused, at least in part, by the modulation. Access point devices may transmit a pattern of packets—the presence or absence of which may correspond with transmit data. Endpoint devices may decode this data by using an energy detector to differentiate between the presence or absence of a packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, David Wetherall, Bryce Kellogg, Aaron N. Parks
  • Patent number: 9680520
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, ambient backscatter transceivers, and methods for modulating a backscatter of an ambient RF signal are described. An example system may include an ambient backscatter transceiver comprising an antenna that is configured to receive a backscattered ambient radio frequency (RF) signal. The ambient backscatter transceiver is configured to demodulate the backscattered ambient RF signal to retrieve first data. The backscattered ambient RF signal is generated by backscattering an ambient RF signal at a first frequency. The ambient RF signal is encoded with modulated to provide second data at a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: University of Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization
    Inventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Joshua R. Smith, Vincent Liu, Aaron N. Parks, Vamsi Talla
  • Publication number: 20170099479
    Abstract: The present technology relates generally to systems and methods for mediated-reality surgical visualization. A mediated-reality surgical visualization system includes an opaque, head-mounted display assembly comprising a frame configured to be mounted to a user's head, an image capture device coupled to the frame, and a display device coupled to the frame, the display device configured to display an image towards the user. A computing device in communication with the display device and the image capture device is configured to receive image data from the image capture device and present an image from the image data via the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Samuel R. Browd, Joshua R. Smith, Rufus Griffin Nicoll
  • Patent number: 9537346
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an electronic device such as a portable computer has a structure that extends from the device to wirelessly transfer electrical power between itself and an external device. The structure may be placed in a non-extended position when not being used for such power transfer. In some embodiments power transfer may take place in either direction, and may be used for various purposes, such as to provide operational power and/or to charge a battery. The external device may be placed on or near the extended structure for power transfer to take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emily B. Cooper, Joshua R. Smith, Alanson P. Sample, John C. Neumann
  • Patent number: 9473209
    Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed that includes features of a receiving antenna configured to wirelessly receive power transmitted by a transmitting device and arranged to associate or dissociate with the transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emily B. Cooper, Joshua R. Smith, Alanson P. Sample
  • Publication number: 20160301257
    Abstract: Examples described herein include systems and methods for multiband harvesting. An example system may include a single wideband antenna followed by several narrowband rectifier chains. Each rectifier chain may include a bandpass filter, a tuned impedance matching network, and a rectifier. The outputs of the rectifiers may be combined using a summation network. The summation network, which may be a diode summation network, may in some examples provide good performance even when only a subset o the narrowband harvesters (e.g. a subset of the rectifier chains) is excited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: AARON N. PARKS, Joshua R. Smith