Patents by Inventor Lester F. Ludwig

Lester F. Ludwig 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: 9172850
    Abstract: A lensless camera with image formation performed by image processing software rather than by lens. Image formation operations are coordinated with a micro-optical element array that can comprise apertures, micro-optic layers, etc. configured so light received from a distant source overlaps onto multiple photosensors. Algorithms for image formation are determined by pixel overlap functions resulting from micro-optic elements directing light to a photosensor array, and can include deconvolution, edge-effect handling, decimation, and interpolation. Image formation operations can comprise frequency-domain operations or other approaches. The micro-optical element array can be configured to produce a spatial light pattern on the photosensor array with optimized detection characteristics. Light-detecting photosensors can comprise elements capable of light emission, for example organic materials with electroluminescent properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 9160894
    Abstract: An approach is presented for a lensless imaging camera wherein image formation is implemented in software image processing operations rather than by means of a lens. The image formation operations are coordinated with an array of micro-optical elements that impose light diffraction. The array of micro-optical elements can comprise one or more micro-optic layers, and micro-optic layers can be configured so that different portions of the micro-optic layer affect light in different ways. The image formation operation can include deconvolution based on an impulse response determined by the array of micro-optical elements which can be configured to produce a desired spatial light intensity pattern on the array of photosensors so as to optimize detection characteristics. The image formation operation can comprise include frequency-domain division operations, and the system can be configured to avoid division by zero values of the frequency-domain impulse response of the array of micro-optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 9071619
    Abstract: A Unified Bandwidth Manager that functions as a multi-service bandwidth manager to interface with and hierarchically manage a plurality of service-specific bandwidth reservation and session management systems for at least one associated network resource is described. The Unified Bandwidth Manager includes a hierarchical control structure, and an interface for providing observed information relevant to policy, goal, and observed resource usage to the hierarchical control structure. At least one service-specific observation element and at least one network monitor observation element provide observation information relating to network conditions imposed on and observed in the associated network resource. The hierarchical control structure is provided with a plurality of feedback inputs that are responsive to associated ongoing observation information from each of an associated observation reporting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Avistar Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Lester F. Ludwig, Jozef Paul Chris Lauwers
  • Patent number: 9031347
    Abstract: A method for correcting overfocus of a digital image created from coherent imaging using centered fractional Fourier transforms or mathematical equivalents is described. A received image is presented to a numerical processor, and a first numerical value for an imaginary power variable is selected and used in an iterative algorithm, numerical procedure, system architecture, etc. A centered discrete fractional Fourier transform of an imaginary power and a phase restore operator associated are applied to the image file to produce a modified image. A change in mis-focused is determined and used in adjusting the specified imaginary power for a next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 9019237
    Abstract: A user interface employs a tactile sensor comprising an LED array, the user interface producing a rich flux of independently-adjustable interactive control parameters, rates of change, and symbols derived from these as well as tactile shapes, patterns, gestures, syntaxes, and phrases from each of one or more regions of contact or proximity. At least three independently-adjustable interactive real-time control parameters, plus rates and symbols, from the touch of a single finger tip. Running sums can be employed during scans so individual sensor measurements need not be stored. The tactile sensor array can be partitioned into sections or modules with separate scanning loops and/or processors. The LED array can serve as a visual display. To reject ambient light, the LED array can be configured to emit and respond to modulated light reflected from a user finger to LEDs configured, at least at a moment of measurement, to act as a photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventors: Lester F. Ludwig, Seung Eun Lim
  • Publication number: 20150062014
    Abstract: The functionality of a conventional mouse is extended to provide an extended number of simultaneously adjustable user interface parameters employing one or more user-removable modules. In an embodiment, a user interface for controlling an external device, such as a computer, includes a first user interface sensor configured with a housing. This first sensor generates a first plurality of signals responsive to movement of the housing relative to two orthogonal axes. A compartment is configured with the housing and is sized to receive the user-removable module. This user-removable module contains a second user interface sensor, which generates a second plurality of signals responsive to user manipulation. Output is provided responsive to signals generated by the first and second user interface sensors. In another embodiment, the housing of an extended functionality mouse itself serves as a module removable from a compartment provided in another physical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8941047
    Abstract: A carbon nanotube electronic circuit utilizing a differential amplifier is implemented on a single carbon nanotube. Field effect transistors are formed from a first group of electrical conductors in contact with the carbon nanotube and a second group of electrical conductors insulated from, but exerting electric fields on, the carbon nanotube form the gates of the field effect transistors. A signal input circuit has a first input portion and a second input portion. A first field effect transistor electrically responsive to a first incoming signal is formed on the first input portion. A carbon nanotube actuator having electrical terminals and responsive to electrical conditions is an electrical load. A current source, connected to the signal input circuit, is formed on the carbon nanotube from one or more second field effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Pike Group LLC
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8935847
    Abstract: A method for creating laboratory-scale reactive distillation apparatus from provided modular components is described. At least two types of modular distillation column stages are provided. A first type of modular stage comprises two physical interfaces for connection with a respective physical interface of another modular stage. A second type modular stage comprises one such physical interface. At least one type of tray is provided for insertion into the first type of modular stage. A clamping arrangement is provided for joining together two modular stages at their respective physical interfaces for connection to form a joint. The invention provides for at least three modular stages can be joined. At least one sensor or sensor array can be inserted into each modular stage. At least one controllable element can be inserted into each modular stage. The invention provides for study of traditional, advanced, and photochemical types of reactive distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8934731
    Abstract: Computer-implemented arrangements for adjusting the focus in original electron microscope image data are described. In an implementation, a fractional Fourier transform operation and a phase restoration operation, both responsive to a fractional power, are collectively applied to original electron microscope image data to produce computationally-focused image data. A parameter adjuster is used to provide a range of variation of the power, and can be adjusted by a user or under the direction of a control system. The fractional Fourier transform operation and the phase restoration operation can be realized by at least one numerical algorithm and can comprise an approximation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8897590
    Abstract: Computer-implemented arrangements for adjusting the focus in original electron microscope image data are described. In an implementation, an origin-centered fractional Fourier transform operation and an origin-centered phase restoration operation, both responsive to a provided fractional power value, are collectively applied to original electron microscope image data to produce computationally-focused image data. A parameter adjuster is used to provide a range of variation of the power value, and can be adjusted by a user or under the direction of a control system. The fractional Fourier transform operation and the phase restoration operation can be realized by at least one numerical algorithm and can comprise an approximation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8894489
    Abstract: A user interface method for use with a touch gesture user interface in a system implementing global or universal gestures and application-specific gestures for the control of software executing on a device comprising a touch user interface and a computational processor wherein the touch gestures are responsive to at least one finger angle. In an example implementation, wherein when a gesture with an application-specific association is recognized, the user interface operation is determined by the software application that has a currently active user-interface focus. In an example implementation, a global or universal gesture is used to control the system. In an example implementation, a global or universal gesture is used to control a software application executing on the system. In an example implementation, the user interface operation is context-specific.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8885035
    Abstract: An electronic imaging flow-microscope for remote environmental sensing, bioreactor process monitoring, and optical microscopic tomography applications is described. A fluid conduit has a port on each end of a thin flat transparent fluid transport region. A planar illumination surface contacts one flat side of the transparent fluid transport region and a planar image sensing surface contacts the other flat side. Light from the illumination surface travels through the transparent fluid transport region to the planar image sensing surface, producing a light field affected by the fluid and objects present. The planar image sensing surface creates electrical image signals responsive to the light field. The planar illumination surface can be light emitting elements such as LEDs, OLEDs, or OLET, whose illumination can be sequenced in an image formation process. The flow microscope can further comprise flow-restricting valves, pumps, energy harvesting arrangements, and power management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8878810
    Abstract: Touch screen user interfaces for controlling software applications, computers, devices, machinery, and process environments with “continuous grammar” touch gestures which begin with finger postures contacting the touch screen with one part of the hand and which conclude with finger postures contacting the touch screen with a different part of the hand without breaking contact with the touch screen. The touch screen can be realized sensor array configured with a visual display arranged to detect touch from one or more fingers. In addition to recognizing simple touch gestures, algorithms comprised by the user interface are additionally arranged to be responsive to pluralities of finger postures executed sequentially without breaking contact with the touch screen. Such user interfaces can be easily used and provide a wide range of uses with computer applications, assistance to the disabled, and control of electronic devices, machines, and processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8878807
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a free-space gesture-based user interface for a computer workstation and desktop software applications are disclosed. In one implementation, the system includes a video camera to generate real-time video signals responsive to a user gesture as observed by the video camera, and a processor to generate control signals responsive to the real-time video signals responsive to the user gesture observed by the video camera. The control signals are used to control a desktop software application executing on the computer workstation, such that at least one aspect of the desktop software application is responsive to the user gesture observed by the video camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8879844
    Abstract: A method and system for calculating oblong-shape rotation angles from optical image data of arbitrary size for user interface applications is described without the need of eigenvector routines and storage of the image data. The oblong shape may be of arbitrary size and location and need not be precisely elliptical. A few running sums are calculated and stored throughout each scan, and the results are obtained in closed form by simple post-scan computation. An algorithmic embodiment can execute on one or more hardware processors with limited or otherwise constrained computation power, available instruction cycles, available memory, etc. Hardware processors may CPUs found in desktops, laptops, tablets, or handheld computing devices. The resulting arrangement may be used for touch or optical user interfaces and other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8866785
    Abstract: Touchscreen user interfaces configured to detect a finger flick touch gesture for controlling software applications, computers, devices, machinery, and process environments. Such user interfaces can be manipulated by users and provide a wide range of uses with computer applications, assistance to the disabled, and control of electronic devices, machines, and processes. Enhancements can include velocity and pressure sensing capabilities. The touchscreen can be realized with a transparent touch sensor array positioned over a visual display. Dynamically assigned labels can be provided by the visual display. Multitouch capabilities can be included that are responsive to additional contact, for example by other parts of a user hand. Displayed visual content, including visual content selection, motion, and sizing, can be controlled by a finger flick gesture. Finger movement trajectories can be tracked, and pluralities of control parameters can be associated with the finger flick gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8859876
    Abstract: Multi-channel audio signal processing systems and techniques are provided for electronic instruments having multiple and distinct output channels. Such systems may be used in conjunction with instruments comprising multiple vibrating elements, each with a dedicated signal output. Each received audio signal channel may be directed to a dedicated or shared signal processor for variably changing selected attributes of pitch, timing, timbre, and amplitude in ways that are unique for each signal. Signal processors may be shared using an allocating mixer, allocating switch, or both. An output mixer may be used to mix signal processor output signals into one or more outgoing mixed audio signals. Signal processors, mixers, and switches may be configured by stored program control and controlled in real-time. Real-time pitch variations can be used to change the pitch organization of fixed-pitch vibrating elements within an electronic musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140267670
    Abstract: A mobile microscopy apparatus usable in connection with a mobile computing device comprising a memory unit and camera, the mobile microscopy apparatus comprising: an illumination module for illuminating a removable media with an illuminating light, an image acquisition optics for creating an image of the sample for acquisition by the camera of the mobile computing device, and a mounting frame assembly for detachably mounting the illumination module and the image acquisition optics to the mobile computing device and for holding the removable media in a predetermined position. In various implementations, the illumination module may provide either backside or frontside illumination of the removable media using the light generated by a light source of the mobile computing device. The mobile microscopy apparatus may operate in the microscope configuration, visible colormatic microarray configuration, and/or fluorescent microarray configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Pooncharas Tipgunlakant, Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140273191
    Abstract: A cell incubation system and methods for using a cell incubation system are described. The incubator system comprises an incubation compartment for receiving a microplate for processing samples. The microplate comprises a plurality of wells, each of the plurality of wells including a collection chamber, and a plurality of fluidic structures coupled to the plurality of wells. The microplate further comprises a plurality of sensors coupled to the plurality of wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: New Renaissance Institute
    Inventors: Pooncharas Tipgunlakant, LESTER F. LUDWIG
  • Publication number: 20140273045
    Abstract: A “breadboard” approach by which a biochemical signaling process, pathway, or network under study is separated or segmented into interconnected smaller portions, at least one of which can to a degree of approximation be accurately emulated with a replica microscale and/or nanoscale fluidic implementation whose constituent species can be closely controlled and at least one aspect of whose behavior can be measured. Control and measurement information interfaces with a computer that executes algorithms comprising one or more of a control process, control event-script, experiment, data recording, and mathematical model. A model can be used to simulate the actions, behavior, or other aspects of another portion of the biochemical signaling process, pathway, or network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig