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).

  • Publication number: 20140267123
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for musical instruments with multiple vibrating elements where multiple-channel electronic signal handling and processing is used to produce diverse musical timbre, effects, and control. A plurality of vibrating elements are coupled, individually or in distinct possibly overlapping groups, to sense transducers which are in turn used to drive signal processors and/or vibration stimulating drive transducers. Sense transducer signals may be mixed prior to signal processing and signal processor outputs may be mixed prior to final system output. All mixing and signal processing can be controlled dynamically, and/or by pre-programming. The invention provides for drive transducers to be electromagnetic and/or piezo, for visual indicators (such as LEDs) to show the activity of each drive transducer, and for the drive transducers to be fed signals from an external source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8830375
    Abstract: A vignetted optoelectronic array for systems and methods performing electronic image formation and refinement from overlapping measurement vignettes captured by an array of image sensors and associated micro-optics. The invention is directed to a new type of image formation system that combines readily-fabricated micro-optical structures, a two-dimensional image sensor array, and electronic or digital image processing to construct an image. Image formation is performed without a conventional large shared lens and associated separation distance between lens and image sensor, resulting in a “lensless camera.” In an embodiment, an LED array is used as a light-field sensor. In an application, the LED array further serves as a color “lensless camera.” In an application, the LED array also serves as an image display. In an application, the LED array further serves as a color mage display. In an embodiment, one or more synergistic features of an integrated camera/display surface are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8826113
    Abstract: Graphical tools and primitives are provided for interactively intersecting graphical surfaces in a spreadsheet or visualization to produce surface intersection data. The invention can be used for simple business analysis as well as advanced engineering and science, and provide numerical solution for simultaneous spatially-manipulated interactive equations. Visualizations of two-dimensional surfaces are rendered from provided data according to position, orientation, and viewpoint, some or all of which can be controlled by a user interface so as to create or control the intersection of surfaces. The provided data can be from an electronic spreadsheet, and the overall visualization can be displayed together with the display an electronic spreadsheet or other tabular data representation. Visually rendered surfaces can comprise symbols, colors, textures, or glyphs representing data, and virtual illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8826114
    Abstract: Graphical tools and primitives are provided for interactively intersecting at least one graphical surface and curve in a spreadsheet or visualization to produce intersection data. Applications include simple business analysis as well as advanced engineering and science, and provide numerical solution for simultaneous spatially-manipulated interactive equations. Visualizations of two-dimensional surfaces are rendered from provided data according to position, orientation, and viewpoint, some or all of which can be controlled by a user interface so as to create or control the intersection of surfaces. The provided data can be from an electronic spreadsheet, and the overall visualization can be displayed together with the display an electronic spreadsheet or other tabular data representation. Visually rendered surfaces can comprise symbols, colors, textures, or glyphs representing data, and virtual illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8816263
    Abstract: Methods of implementing light field sensors for lensless synthetic imaging is provided. Relatively tall and short structures are fabricated, wherein the short structures comprise light sensing capabilities. The tall structures and short structures are arranged in an array to create an array of vignetted light sensors that partition an incoming light field into a plurality of vignetted light fields, each uniquely associated with a particular light sensor. Each light sensor generates a measurable electrical quantity responsive to the associated vignetted light field, and the collective measurable electrical quantities are responsive to incoming light field. The short structures can comprise photodiodes, LEDs, or OLEDs, and the resulting light field sensor can respond to color. Tall structures can comprise electronic components, LEDs, OLEDS, or OLETs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8816956
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: BioRam Tech L.L.C.
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8812163
    Abstract: A controllable multiple-channel chemical transport bus routes and transports fluids, gasses, aerosols, slurries and the like within a larger system. The system and methods are applicable for use in Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) technology, and can be useful in the implementation of reconfigurable LoC devices. Routes through the bus are determined by control signals and/or sequences of control signals issued under algorithmic control. Several independent flows may occur simultaneously. Adaptations of Clos, Banyan, and other related multi-stage switching architectures in the flow topology can be supported. Sensors are placed at various locations along bus path segments. Information gathered by the sensors can be used for one or more of controlling measured flows, clearing operations, cleaning operations, and control of the timing flow transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140210786
    Abstract: Touch screen user interfaces configured to detect a 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 touch screen can be realized with a transparent touch sensor array positioned over a visual display. The touch screen can be configured to measure a spatial distribution profile from a touch on the touch screen and recognize gestures based on dynamics among spatial pressure distribution profiles. In an example implementation, the gesture recognition may rely solely on dynamics of shape differences between hand contact patterns and omit the use of pressure, as the shape of the spatial distribution profile does not vary much by pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140211811
    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: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: AVISTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lester F. Ludwig, Jozef Paul Chris Lauwers
  • Patent number: 8792167
    Abstract: A monolithic or hybrid integrated optical information processor or optical information processing system having a plurality of non-quadratic phase optical elements, at least one LED array, and plurality of light modulating array elements, each controlled by respective control signals, the system arranged so that each light modulating array element lies in a different plane. In some implementations, at least a portion of the resulting system is implemented in a stack of component materials. In an implementation, an LED array is used as an image source and another LED array is used as an image sensor to transform the processed image into an electrical output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140204172
    Abstract: A bandwidth management system for multiple-service mobile networks for use with a plurality of instances of mobile communications devices. A plurality of communications silo each provide at least one communications service using a mobile network wherein at least one communications service from at least one communications silo involving the transport of real-time two-way video or other high bandwidth communications. Call/session state information from the communications silos and packet-level network transport measurement information responsive to packet-level network transport processes in the mobile network are used by a control system to create control messages transmitted to the communications silos for controlling call/session admission application QoS parameters responsive to traffic and network operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: AVISTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANTON F. RODDE, LESTER F. LUDWIG
  • Publication number: 20140193091
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140195907
    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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140176500
    Abstract: Methods for piecewise-linear and piecewise-affine transformations parameter decoupling in High Dimensional Touchpad (HDTP) user touch interfaces including those with multitouch capabilities are described. A calculation chain provides a first-order calculation of a subset of a collection of touch parameters (including for example left-right, front-back, downward pressure, roll angle, pitch angle, yaw angle) responsive in real-time to user touch on a touch-responsive sensor array. A piecewise-affine transformation is applied to these first-order calculations to produce parameter decoupling. The piecewise-affine transformation can be structured to depend only on current numerical values from the first-order calculation. Alternatively, the piecewise-affine transformation can be structured to additionally depend on the positive or negative direction of change over time of at least one numerical value from the first-order calculation, thereby providing a correction for hysteresis effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8754842
    Abstract: An integrated display and camera without simple or compound lenses comprising interleaved light-emitting and light-sensing/photosensor elements. Image formation without use of a simple or compound lens can be obtained via software algorithms operating on light-sensing measurements, for example implementing a two-dimensional deconvolution operation defined by the transfer function imposed by a microoptic array. For example, a microoptic aperture array can be configured to comprise localized optical overlaps which are readily deconvolved or otherwise solved for by an algorithm. Associated microoptic structures can be as simple as apertures or can be more complex, for example including microlenses. Display and photosensor elements can include color capabilities. Light-sensing elements can be similar, nearly, or essentially identical in structure and/or composition to the light-emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140163702
    Abstract: A method for synthesis of an advanced hysteresis function of a plurality of inputs providing cross-feedback-controlled hysteron synthesized hysteresis networks for signal processing, controllers, music, and computer simulations in physics, engineering, and economics is described. The method includes receiving and processing of a plurality of input signals with at least two parameterized multivariable nonlinearities, each parameterized multivariable nonlinearity serving as a parameterized hysteron, to produce at least one associated output signal. The output signals are processed by controller functions, each controller function comprising memory and producing at least one control signal responsive to at least one of the output signals and for controlling an associated parameterized hysteron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20140150629
    Abstract: Data sonification arrangements for use with data visualization so as to provide parallel perceptual channels for representing complex numerical data to a user seeking to identify correlations within the data are presented. In an implementation, several varying data quantities are represented by time-varying graphics while several other varying data quantities are represented by time-varying sound, both presented to a user to observe correlations between sonic and visual events or trends. Sonification can be used to offload some information-carrying information capacity from a visualization system, while other information can be rendered via both sonification and visualization to provide affirming or orienting redundancy. In an implementation joint and coordinated visual-sonic metaphors are used for this or other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8743076
    Abstract: Touch screen user interfaces configured to detect a 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 touch screen can be realized with a transparent touch sensor array positioned over a visual display. The touch screen can be configured to measure a spatial pressure distribution profile from a touch on the touch screen and recognize gestures based on dynamics among spatial pressure distribution profiles. In an example implementation, the gesture recognition may rely solely on dynamics of shape differences between hand contact patterns and omit the use of pressure, as the shape of the spatial pressure distribution profile does not vary much by pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8743068
    Abstract: A touch screen method for recognizing a finger-flick touch gesture for an electronic device including a overlaying a plurality of transparent sensors on top of a visual display associated with the electronic device and where the transparent sensors are configured to be responsive to touch by at least one user finger and the visual display is for rendering visual information provided by the electronic device is disclosed. Control parameters associated with sensor measurements include parameter derived from recognizing a finger-flick touch gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8734732
    Abstract: A microfluidic system comprising a plurality of photochemical reaction stages, the microfluidic system comprising a computational processor, a plurality of electrically-controllable photochemical reaction stages, and a series of controllable interconnections for connecting the photochemical reaction stages. In an implementation, the computational processor controls the plurality of electrically-controllable photochemical reaction stages and the controllable interconnections so as to implement a multi-step photochemical synthesis function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig