Patents by Inventor Mark Kraz

Mark Kraz 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: 20240147035
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face includes: (a) an inner section corresponding to the image sensor; and (b) an outer section between the housing and the inner section, the outer section having a concave shape that extends from an outer periphery of the outer section to an inner periphery of the outer section; and where the concave shape extends around an entirety of the outer periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Kevin Edward Booth, Tyler Scott Wilson, Nicholas Webb, Jason Evans Goulden, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Rochus Jacob, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Oliver Mueller
  • Publication number: 20240080538
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor encased in the housing and configured to capture activity of the smart home environment; (3) a wireless radio configured to transmit video frames captured by the image sensor to an electronic device via a remote server; (4) at least one infrared transmitter configured to selectively illuminate the smart home environment; (5) one or more circuit boards encased in the housing, the one or more circuit boards including at least one processor mounted thereon; and (6) a heating component coupled to the image sensor, the heating component configured to continuously maintain the image sensor at a temperature above a threshold temperature while the image sensor is capturing the activity of the smart home environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jason Rukes, Tyler Wilson, Amber Volmering, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Jason Goulden, Guangxun Liao, Kevin Edward Booth, Dietrich Ho, Daniel Patrick Foran, Oliver Mueller, Mark Kraz
  • Patent number: 11924532
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face includes: (a) an inner section corresponding to the image sensor; and (b) an outer section between the housing and the inner section, the outer section having a concave shape that extends from an outer periphery of the outer section to an inner periphery of the outer section; and where the concave shape extends around an entirety of the outer periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Kevin Edward Booth, Tyler Scott Wilson, Nicholas Webb, Jason Evans Goulden, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Rochus Jacob, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Oliver Mueller
  • Patent number: 11873952
    Abstract: A light ring assembly for a smart-home device may include a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a light guide, where the light guide may include a plurality of cutouts that receive the plurality of LEDs, and a plurality of transmissive sections between the plurality of cutouts where a thickness of the transmissive sections tapers as the transmissive sections extend away from the plurality of cutouts. The light ring assembly may also include an output surface that receives light emitted from the plurality of LEDs through the plurality of transmissive sections, where the output surface is substantially circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Amber Volmering, Bryan Macomber, Jacobi Grillo, Adam Kilgore
  • Patent number: 11849198
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor encased in the housing and configured to capture activity of the smart home environment; (3) a wireless radio configured to transmit video frames captured by the image sensor to an electronic device via a remote server; (4) at least one infrared transmitter configured to selectively illuminate the smart home environment; (5) one or more circuit boards encased in the housing, the one or more circuit boards including at least one processor mounted thereon; and (6) a heating component coupled to the image sensor, the heating component configured to continuously maintain the image sensor at a temperature above a threshold temperature while the image sensor is capturing the activity of the smart home environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jason Rukes, Tyler Wilson, Amber Volmering, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Jason Goulden, Guangxun Liao, Kevin Edward Booth, Dietrich Ho, Daniel Patrick Foran, Oliver Mueller, Mark Kraz
  • Publication number: 20230281935
    Abstract: A method for guiding installation of smart-home devices may include capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, a view of an installation location for a smart-home device; rendering, by the mobile computing device, a view of a virtual object that represents a real-world obstruction that will interfere with the operation or installation of the smart-home device; and displaying, by the mobile computing device, the view of a virtual object that represents real-world obstruction with the view of the installation location on the display of the mobile computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Adam Mittleman, Jason Chamberlain, Jacobi Grillo, Daniel Biran, Mark Kraz, Lauren Chanen, Daniel Foran, David Fichou, William Dong, Bao-Tram Phan Nguyen, Brian Silverstein, Yash Modi, Alex Finlayson, Dongeek Shin
  • Publication number: 20230108250
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face includes: (a) an inner section corresponding to the image sensor; and (b) an outer section between the housing and the inner section, the outer section having a concave shape that extends from an outer periphery of the outer section to an inner periphery of the outer section; and where the concave shape extends around an entirety of the outer periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Kevin Edward Booth, Tyler Scott Wilson, Nicholas Webb, Jason Evans Goulden, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Rochus Jacob, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Oliver Mueller
  • Patent number: 11593999
    Abstract: A method for guiding installation of smart-home devices may include capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, a view of an installation location for a smart-home device; determining, by the mobile computing device, an instruction for installing the smart-home device at the location; and displaying, by a display of the mobile computing device, the view of the installation location for a smart-home device with the instruction for installing the smart-home device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Adam Mittleman, Jason Chamberlain, Jacobi Grillo, Daniel Biran, Mark Kraz, Lauren Chanen, Daniel Foran, David Fichou, William Dong, Bao-Tram Phan Nguyen, Brian Silverstein, Yash Modi, Alex Finlayson, Dongeek Shin
  • Patent number: 11546491
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a camera device that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; (3) at least one infrared (IR) illuminator positioned with the housing, the IR illuminator configured to selectively illuminate the scene; and (4) a front face that is at least partially concave-shaped and coupled to the housing, the front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor, and the front face positioned in front of the IR illuminator such that IR light from the IR illuminator is directed through the front face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Kevin Edward Booth, Tyler Scott Wilson, Nicholas Webb, Jason Evans Goulden, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Rochus Jacob, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Oliver Mueller
  • Publication number: 20220243874
    Abstract: A light ring assembly for a smart-home device may include a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a light guide, where the light guide may include a plurality of cutouts that receive the plurality of LEDs, and a plurality of transmissive sections between the plurality of cutouts where a thickness of the transmissive sections tapers as the transmissive sections extend away from the plurality of cutouts. The light ring assembly may also include an output surface that receives light emitted from the plurality of LEDs through the plurality of transmissive sections, where the output surface is substantially circular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Amber Volmering, Bryan Macomber, Jacobi Grillo, Adam Kilgore
  • Patent number: 11371545
    Abstract: Various arrangements of a surface mount system are presented herein. The system may include a surface mount plate. The surface mount plate may include a circular lip and nubs located along the circular lip. The system may also include a device housing. The device housing can include slider clips that removably clip to the circular lip of the surface mount plate when the plurality of slider clips are pushed against the circular lip. The slider clips can be disengaged from the circular lip of the surface mount plate when the device housing is rotated with respect to the surface mount plate such that the nubs located on the surface mount plate push the slider clips away from the circular lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Adam Mittleman
  • Publication number: 20220159149
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor encased in the housing and configured to capture activity of the smart home environment; (3) a wireless radio configured to transmit video frames captured by the image sensor to an electronic device via a remote server; (4) at least one infrared transmitter configured to selectively illuminate the smart home environment; (5) one or more circuit boards encased in the housing, the one or more circuit boards including at least one processor mounted thereon; and (6) a heating component coupled to the image sensor, the heating component configured to continuously maintain the image sensor at a temperature above a threshold temperature while the image sensor is capturing the activity of the smart home environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jason Rukes, Tyler Wilson, Amber Volmering, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Jason Goulden, Guangxun Liao, Kevin Edward Booth, Dietrich Ho, Daniel Patrick Foran, Oliver Mueller, Mark Kraz
  • Patent number: 11306878
    Abstract: A light ring assembly for a smart-home device may include a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a light guide, where the light guide may include a plurality of cutouts that receive the plurality of LEDs, and a plurality of transmissive sections between the plurality of cutouts where a thickness of the transmissive sections tapers as the transmissive sections extend away from the plurality of cutouts. The light ring assembly may also include an output surface that receives light emitted from the plurality of LEDs through the plurality of transmissive sections, where the output surface is substantially circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Amber Volmering, Bryan Macomber, Jacobi Grillo, Adam Kilgore
  • Patent number: 11277546
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor encased in the housing and configured to capture activity of the smart home environment; (3) a wireless radio configured to transmit video frames captured by the image sensor to an electronic device via a remote server; (4) at least one infrared transmitter configured to selectively illuminate the smart home environment; (5) one or more circuit boards encased in the housing, the one or more circuit boards including at least one processor mounted thereon; and (6) a heating component coupled to the image sensor, the heating component configured to continuously maintain the image sensor at a temperature above a threshold temperature while the image sensor is capturing the activity of the smart home environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jason Rukes, Tyler Wilson, Amber Volmering, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Jason Goulden, Guangxun Liao, Kevin Edward Booth, Dietrich Ho, Daniel Patrick Foran, Oliver Mueller, Mark Kraz
  • Publication number: 20210407209
    Abstract: A method for guiding installation of smart-home devices may include capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, a view of an installation location for a smart-home device; determining, by the mobile computing device, an instruction for installing the smart-home device at the location; and displaying, by a display of the mobile computing device, the view of the installation location for a smart-home device with the instruction for installing the smart-home device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Adam Mittleman, Jason Chamberlain, Jacobi Grillo, Daniel Biran, Mark Kraz, Lauren Chanen, Daniel Foran, David Fichou, William Dong, Bao-Tram Phan Nguyen, Brian Silverstein, Yash Modi, Alex Finlayson, Dongeek Shin
  • Patent number: 11181230
    Abstract: An attachment mechanism for mounting an electronic device to a surface including a mounting plate configured to attach to the surface, the mounting plate having at least one projection, and a base configured to releasably couple to the mounting plate. The base may include a first biasing member, and a first arm pivotably coupled to the base and biased toward a first direction by the first biasing member, the first arm configured to interlock with the at least one projection when the base is coupled to the mounting plate. The base may further include a release mechanism coupled to the first arm such that actuation of the release mechanism when the base is coupled to the mounting plate in a secured engagement causes movement of the first arm in a second direction to disengage the first arm from the at least one projection to enable detachment of the base from the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Law, William Dong, Oliver Mueller, Kevin Booth, Tyler Wilson, Mark Kraz
  • Publication number: 20210344818
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face includes: (a) an inner section corresponding to the image sensor; and (b) an outer section between the housing and the inner section, the outer section having a concave shape that extends from an outer periphery of the outer section to an inner periphery of the outer section; and where the concave shape extends around an entirety of the outer periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Kevin Edward Booth, Tyler Scott Wilson, Nicholas Webb, Jason Evans Goulden, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Rochus Jacob, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Oliver Mueller
  • Patent number: 11120636
    Abstract: A method for guiding installation of smart-home devices may include capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, a view of an installation location for a smart-home device; identifying a wire in the view of the installation location for the smart-home device; determining an instruction for connecting the wire to the smart-home device; and displaying the view of the installation location for a smart-home device with the instruction for connecting the wire to the smart-home device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Adam Mittleman, Jason Chamberlain, Jacobi Grillo, Daniel Biran, Mark Kraz, Lauren Chanen, Daniel Foran, David Fichou, William Dong, Bao-Tram Phan Nguyen, Brian Silverstein, Yash Modi, Alex Finlayson, Dongeek Shin
  • Patent number: 11089187
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face includes: (a) an inner section corresponding to the image sensor; and (b) an outer section between the housing and the inner section, the outer section having a concave shape that extends from an outer periphery of the outer section to an inner periphery of the outer section; and where the concave shape extends around an entirety of the outer periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kraz, Kevin Edward Booth, Tyler Scott Wilson, Nicholas Webb, Jason Evans Goulden, William Dong, Jeffrey Law, Rochus Jacob, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Oliver Mueller
  • Patent number: D959536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Rochus Emmanuel Jacob, Oliver Mueller, Nicholas Unger Webb, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Jason Goulden, Kevin Edward Booth, Tyler Scott Wilson, Mark Kraz, Jeffrey Hui-Kwun Law, William Dong