Patents by Inventor Michael Alan Hicks

Michael Alan Hicks 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: 11705668
    Abstract: A retainer apparatus includes a post having a first end to be received by an opening of a wall plate cover of an outlet and a second end opposite the first end. At least a portion of the post has a plurality of grooves positioned between the first end and the second end. The plurality of grooves forming a retainer-receiving portion. A plug retainer is moveably coupled to the post. The plug retainer to slide along the retainer-receiving portion in a linear direction relative to the grooves when the plug retainer is moved relative to the retainer-receiving portion of the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Mark Richard Cave, Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20220408152
    Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein includes a grouper to generate a first presence indication based on a threshold number of segments of image data including patterns of light values corresponding to a first human pulse. Disclosed example apparatus also include a face identifier to identify a first location associated with a human face in an environment associated with the image data based on thermal imaging data from a thermal imaging device, and output the first location associated with the human face in the environment associated with the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20220052486
    Abstract: Example retainer apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example retainer apparatus disclosed herein includes a post having a first end to be received by an opening of a wall plate cover of an outlet and a second end opposite the first end. At least a portion of the post has a plurality of grooves positioned between the first end and the second end. The plurality of grooves forming a retainer-receiving portion. A plug retainer is moveably coupled to the post. The plug retainer to slide along the retainer-receiving portion in a linear direction relative to the grooves when the plug retainer is moved relative to the retainer-receiving portion of the post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Richard Cave, Michael Alan Hicks
  • Patent number: 11211749
    Abstract: Example retainer apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example retainer apparatus disclosed herein includes a post having a first end attachable to a wall plate cover opening of an outlet and a second end opposite the first end. The example retainer apparatus also includes a plug retainer to be removably coupled to the post. The plug retainer of the example retainer apparatus is to move relative to the post between the first end of the post and the second end of the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Mark Richard Cave, Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20190098359
    Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein includes a grouper to generate a first presence indication based on a threshold number of segments of image data including patterns of light values corresponding to a first human pulse. Disclosed example apparatus also include a face identifier to identify a first location associated with a human face in an environment associated with the image data based on thermal imaging data from a thermal imaging device, and output the first location associated with the human face in the environment associated with the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20190044283
    Abstract: Example retainer apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example retainer apparatus disclosed herein includes a post having a first end attachable to a wall plate cover opening of an outlet and a second end opposite the first end. The example retainer apparatus also includes a plug retainer to be removably coupled to the post. The plug retainer of the example retainer apparatus is to move relative to the post between the first end of the post and the second end of the post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Richard Cave, Michael Alan Hicks
  • Patent number: 10136184
    Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein include processor circuitry and memory including machine executable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor circuitry to generate a first presence indication based on a threshold number of portions of an image including a first human pulse waveform. The example instructions, when executed, also cause the processor circuitry to identify a first location associated with a face in the image based on thermal imaging data, and adjust a first count based on a comparison of the first location associated with the face and a second location associated with the first presence indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20180167679
    Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein include processor circuitry and memory including machine executable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor circuitry to generate a first presence indication based on a threshold number of portions of an image including a first human pulse waveform. The example instructions, when executed, also cause the processor circuitry to identify a first location associated with a face in the image based on thermal imaging data, and adjust a first count based on a comparison of the first location associated with the face and a second location associated with the first presence indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Patent number: 9918127
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect people are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a first human pulse waveform in first light information associated with a first one of a plurality of segments of an environment, the light information obtained from a light sensor. Generating a first presence indication in response to respective light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments includes the first human pulse waveform identified in the first one of the segments. Identifying a first location associated with a face in the environment using thermal imaging data from a thermal sensor. Adjusting a people count in response to the first location associated with the face not corresponding to a second location associated with the first presence indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20170201795
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect people are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a first human pulse waveform in first light information associated with a first one of a plurality of segments of an environment, the light information obtained from a light sensor. Generating a first presence indication in response to respective light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments includes the first human pulse waveform identified in the first one of the segments. Identifying a first location associated with a face in the environment using thermal imaging data from a thermal sensor. Adjusting a people count in response to the first location associated with the face not corresponding to a second location associated with the first presence indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Patent number: 9609385
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect people are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a receiver to obtain respective light information for a plurality of segments of an image, each of the segments corresponding to a portion of a media exposure environment; a pulse identifier to detect a first human pulse pattern in the light information associated with a first one of the segments; and a grouper to determine whether the light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments includes the first human pulse pattern identified in the first one of the segments, and to generate a presence indication when the light information associated with the threshold amount of the segments proximate the first segment includes the first human pulse pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20160066034
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect people are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a receiver to obtain respective light information for a plurality of segments of an image, each of the segments corresponding to a portion of a media exposure environment; a pulse identifier to detect a first human pulse pattern in the light information associated with a first one of the segments; and a grouper to determine whether the light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments includes the first human pulse pattern identified in the first one of the segments, and to generate a presence indication when the light information associated with the threshold amount of the segments proximate the first segment includes the first human pulse pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Publication number: 20140244207
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to determine in-aisle locations in monitored environments are disclosed. An example apparatus includes first and second sensors in communication with a location meter. The first sensor is to detect (1) a first sequence of position indicators when the location meter is moving along an aisle of a monitored environment in a first direction, or (2) a second sequence of the position indicators when the location meter is moving along the aisle in a second direction opposite the first direction. The second sensor is to detect (1) the second sequence of position indicators when the location meter is moving along the aisle in the first direction, or (2) the first sequence of the position indicators when the location meter is moving along the aisle in the second direction. An in-aisle position of the location meter is to be determined based on the first and second sequences of position indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Patent number: 8649610
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for auditing signage are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves directing an operator to a signage location and capturing an image of a signage at the signage location. The example method also includes detecting an actual characteristic of the signage based on the image and comparing the actual characteristic to an expected characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alan Hicks
  • Patent number: D809941
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, Saso Vranek, Michael Alan Hicks, James Joseph Vitt
  • Patent number: D820694
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, Saso Vranek, Michael Alan Hicks, James Joseph Vitt
  • Patent number: D864770
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, Saso Vranek, Michael Alan Hicks, James Joseph Vitt
  • Patent number: D884518
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, Saso Vranek, Michael Alan Hicks, James Joseph Vitt
  • Patent number: D941163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, Saso Vranek, Michael Alan Hicks, James Joseph Vitt
  • Patent number: D966908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, Saso Vranek, Michael Alan Hicks, James Joseph Vitt