Patents by Inventor Michael Charles

Michael Charles 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).

  • Apparatus and method for joint repair
    Patent number: 10779868
    Abstract: A bolster system having a first bolster device, a second bolster device, and an adjustable tether that includes a one-way pre-tied slideable adjustment knot. The adjustment knot is at a first position prior to insertion of the first bolster device into a passageway in one or more bones. The second bolster device includes a body portion having an outer portion that is sized to be received in the passageway and/or in an aperture of a bone plate. The body portion also includes a channel that is sized to accommodate recessed and/or embedded placement of the pre-tied slideable adjustment knot. The second bolster device can also include an oversized plate portion that abuts against a cortex of a bone or a wall of a bone plate. The second bolster device can also include a threaded member or retention tab that lockingly secures the second bolster device to a bone plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul O'Connor, Michael Charles Ferragamo, William R. Davis, Rajesh Sivakumar
  • Enhanced foam removal of total suspended solids and multiply charged cations from aqueous or aqueous/oil mixed phase via increased viscoelasticity
    Patent number: 10773973
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for purifying and/or removing multiply charged cations and suspended solids from water. In particular the process relates to an additive composition that has the appropriate surfactant characteristics for effectively removing multiply charged cations and suspended solids from an aqueous or oil/aqueous mixed phase via foam fractionation. According to the invention, a hydrophobically modified polymer that acts as an associative thickener is used in the presence of a source of alkalinity or anionic reactant as well as surfactant in appropriate ratios to facilitate multiply charged cation and suspended solids removal for water purification in any of a number of commercial, environmental and industrial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Fuk-Pong Man, Michael Charles Denoma
  • Customer assisted robot picking
    Patent number: 10769716
    Abstract: A method for customer assisted robot picking includes navigating a robot to a pose location within a retail space in proximity to an item to be picked, the retail space having items for purchase by customers, the robot identifying, by a sensor in communication with the robot, a customer located within a zone proximate the robot, communicating to the customer information identifying the item to be picked, detecting presentation of the item by the customer for identification, and updating customer performance data stored in a customer account to include data corresponding to picking of the item by the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventors: Bruce Welty, Michael Charles Johnson, Karen Leavitt
  • Drone physical and data interface for enhanced distance coverage
    Patent number: 10755582
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for a drone physical and data interface for enhanced distance coverage. An unmanned aerial vehicle or a drone may be unable to operate over a distance due to range limitations. The drone may utilize onboard systems and communications with other devices and servers to detect another vehicle operating over at least a portion of the distance, where connecting to the vehicle and using the vehicles resources for travel over the portion of the distance decreases the flight time of the drone. The drone may utilize a camera and communications with the vehicle or server to determine a connection point to the vehicle, and may connect to the vehicle to travel the portion of the distance. If the drone has not yet arrived at the destination and still requires further assistance reaching it, the drone may locate another vehicle to further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Todasco, Timothy Resudek, Titus Woo, Anush Vishwanath, Gautam Madaan, Zachary Joseph Berman, Braden Christopher Ericson, Lars Holger Alexander Steinmetzger
  • Authenticating with a service provider using a virtual assistant device
    Patent number: 10750015
    Abstract: A virtual assistant device is configured to perform operations that include receiving a user request of a user to use a service provided by a service provider, and based on an identifier associated with the service provider, determining a set of authentication credential types that the service provider accepts for authentication. The operations also include determining, based on sensor information collected from one or more hardware sensors, whether one or more other people besides the user are within a proximity to the device. Further, the operations include based on a calculated risk security level, selecting a first authentication credential type from the set of authentication credential types and selecting a first communication mode from a set of communication modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jiri Medlen, Anush Vishwanath, Braden Christopher Ericson, Michael Charles Todasco, Cheng Tian, Gautam Madaan, Titus Woo
  • Detector tags to determine perishability of food items
    Patent number: 10740814
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for detect tags to determine perishability of food items. A merchant may utilize detector tags on, attached to, or otherwise associated with perishable items to detect conditions of the perishable items. For example, the detector tags may determine chemical properties, ambient light levels, temperatures, or other conditions for or around the perishable items. The conditions may be communicated by the tags to a user's device or the merchant's device. Where the conditions indicate that one or more of the perishable items are ready for consumption, the user may be alerted of a state of the perishable item, such as ready or ripe. The user may further be informed of where to find the perishable item in the merchant's location. However, if the perishable item has gone bad, the user and/or merchant may be warned about the item to prevent health issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Saumil Ashvin Gandhi, Michael Charles Todasco, Anand Lakshmanan
  • Method and apparatus for making a compartmentalized tire sealant strip
    Patent number: 10737539
    Abstract: A method for making a compartmentalized sealant strip and barrier assembly 10 has the steps of co-extruding a barrier strip 9 of non-sealant elastomeric material with a plurality of projecting linear extending walls 9c and a sealant strip 11 wherein the sealant strip 11 is formed on one side of the barrier strip 9 filling the space between the plurality of projecting walls 9c to form a plurality of linearly extending rows of sealant 11 across the transverse width of the co-extrusion to form the compartmentalized sealant strip and barrier assembly 10. The step of co-extruding may further include the step of: forming the projecting walls 9c on an inclined angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the width of the assembly 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Michael Charles Ruegg, Jr., Ernest Wilford Looman, Jr., Donald Edward Helle, Patrick David Marks, Thomas Roy Fuhrig, Joseph Alan Incavo, James Earl Koerner, Terrence Lee Parsons, Charles Kenneth Schmalix, Warren James Busch, Timothy Patrick Lovell
  • Aggregation system for item retrieval
    Patent number: 10743162
    Abstract: Various systems, mediums, and methods herein describe mechanisms that enable a user to send a request from her smartphone to multiple retriever devices, such that an item may be retrieved for the user. At least one of the users of the retriever devices may accept the request to retrieve the item for the requesting user. The retrieving device may send an acceptance message to the requester's smartphone to confirm that the item may be retrieved for the requesting user. In such instances, a retrieval fee may be transferred to the retrieving user's account accessible with the retriever device that accepted the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Charles Todasco
  • PROXIMATE ROBOT OBJECT DETECTION AND AVOIDANCE
    Publication number: 20200246971
    Abstract: Systems and methods for proximate robot object detection and avoidance are provided herein which include a receiver in electronic communication with an autonomous robot and configured to receive a broadcast message from a beacon, a processor, and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to detect, based on the received broadcast message, a proximity of the beacon to the autonomous robot, determine, from the received broadcast message, a beacon status, the beacon status indicating whether the beacon is stationary, approaching the autonomous robot, or withdrawing from the autonomous robot, identify, according to the detected proximity and the determined beacon status, a corresponding proximity operation, and control the autonomous robot to stop an ordinary operation and operate according to the identified proximity operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Luis Jaquez, Bruce Welty
  • ROBOT ASSISTED PERSONNEL ROUTING
    Publication number: 20200246978
    Abstract: Systems and methods for robot assisted personnel routing including a plurality of autonomous robots operating within a navigational space, each robot including a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to detect completion of a task operation by a human operator, receive status information corresponding to at least one other robot, the status information including at least one of a location or a wait time associated with the other robot, determine, from the status information, at least one next task recommendation for directing the human operator to a next robot for a next task operation, and render, on a display of the robot, the at least one next task recommendation for viewing by the human operator, the next task recommendation including a location of the next robot corresponding to the next task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Luis Jaquez, Sean Johnson
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING IMPROVED GAME OUTCOMES
    Publication number: 20200250921
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a gaming system and method are disclosed as enabling improvements to game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to adjust game elements to different positions to improve game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome. In some embodiments, the player purchases the opportunity to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Hiten, Michael Charles Halvorson, Josef Alexander Hartl
  • AUTHENTICATION BASED ON OBJECT RECOGNITION
    Publication number: 20200250292
    Abstract: Various systems, mediums, and methods herein describe aspects of an authentication system. The system may receive a request from a user device to authenticate a user. The system may determine a route traveled by the user. The route can be determined based at least on data retrieved from the user device of the user. The system may determine one or more objects viewable along the route. At least one image of the one or more objects can be selected. The system may communicate the at least one image and at least one other image to the user device to be displayed on the user device. The system may receive a selection of the at least one image by the user through a display of the user device. The authentication of the user can be based, at least in part, on the user selection of the at least one image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Charles Todasco, Sumeet Ahuja, Prashanthi Ravanavarapu, Geetha Kuppuswamy, Dushyanth Bharadwaj
  • ROBOT CONGESTION MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20200246972
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for robot congestion management including a robot monitoring server configured to track a location of a plurality of robots within a navigational space and a plurality of robots in communication with the robot monitoring server, each robot including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the autonomous robot to determine, from a task list assigned to the robot, a first pose location corresponding to a first task, receive, from the robot monitoring server, congestion information associated with the first pose location, identify a congested state of the first pose location indicated by the congestion information, select, responsive to the identification of the congested state, a second task from the task list, and navigate to a second pose location corresponding to the second task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Luis Jaquez, Sean Johnson, Andrew Alcutt
  • CONVERSATION ASSISTANCE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200252501
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing conversation assistance include receiving from at least one user device of a user, conversation information and determining that the conversation information is associated with a conversation involving the user and a first person that is associated with first conversation assistance information in a non-transitory memory. Body measurement data of the user is retrieved from the at least first user device. A need for conversation assistance in the conversation involving the user and the first person is detected using the body measurement data. First conversation assistance information associated with the first person is retrieved from the non-transitory memory. The first conversation assistance information associated with the first person is provided through the at least one user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Charles Todasco
  • Gaming system and method of providing improved game outcomes
    Patent number: 10733834
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a gaming system and method are disclosed as enabling improvements to game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to adjust game elements to different positions to improve game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome. In some embodiments, the player purchases the opportunity to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ADP GAUSELMANN GMBH
    Inventors: Charles Hiten, Michael Charles Halvorson, Josef Alexander Hartl
  • TOTE INDUCTION IN WAREHOUSE ORDER FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS
    Publication number: 20200239232
    Abstract: A method for assigning orders to a plurality of robots fulfilling orders in a warehouse with the assistance of a plurality of operators. The method includes providing a first robot of the plurality of robots to a be assigned an order set, including one or more orders to be fulfilled and assessing the locations of at least one of the plurality of robots or at least one of the plurality of operators in the warehouse. The method also includes selecting an anchor location in the warehouse and generating an order set for the first robot correlated to the anchor location in the warehouse. The method also includes assigning the order set to the first robot for fulfillment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson, Luis Jaquez
  • OPTIMIZED TOTE RECOMMENDATION PROCESS IN WAREHOUSE ORDER FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS
    Publication number: 20200239233
    Abstract: A method for recommending a tote type for an operator to select for use in robot induction process, wherein the robot operates under the control of a warehouse management system to fulfill orders, each order including one or more items and each item being located in a warehouse. The method includes grouping one or more orders from an order queue to form at least one order set. The method also includes identifying, based on a characteristic of the at least one order set, a preferred tote type to be assigned to the robot to carry the order set on the robot. The method further includes communicating to an operator the preferred tote type to enable the operator to select from a plurality of totes a tote of the preferred tote type to assign to the robot for execution of the order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Luis Jaquez, Bruce Welty
  • ROBOT DWELL TIME MINIMIZATION IN WAREHOUSE ORDER FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS
    Publication number: 20200239231
    Abstract: A method for executing an order with a plurality of items assigned to a first robot of a plurality of robots operating in a warehouse with the assistance of a plurality of operators. The method includes navigating the first robot to a first location in the warehouse proximate a location of a first item in the order and pausing for an operator of to assist the first robot to execute a function. The method includes determining if the first robot has been paused for greater than a maximum dwell time without being assisted by an operator. If it has been, the method causes the first robot to leave the first location without completing the function on the first item and causing the first robot to proceed to a second location proximate a storage a second item to execute a function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson
  • Electronic devices for wave pattern data transfer
    Patent number: 10708779
    Abstract: Methods and systems for electronic devices and platforms that are configured to communicate with a wave pattern are disclosed herein. Such an electronic device may be configured to be placed on a platform. The electronic device may convert a message to be transmitted to a wave pattern. The wave pattern may be a series of vibrations, electronic pulses, or light flashes. The electronic device may then vibrate, send pulses, or flash and the platform may communicate such data to one or more other electronic devices. A receiving electronic device may detect the wave pattern and determine the message from the received wave pattern and respond accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Todasco, Timothy Resudek, Lucy Ma Zhao, Felipe Albertao, Braden Christopher Ericson, Gautam Madaan, Fun-Chen Jou, Vidit Maniyar, Cameron Winter McClees, Kaili An
  • Computing system testing service
    Patent number: 10705945
    Abstract: A plurality of computing resources are provisioned for a plurality of computing system elements based at least in part on input specification information, whereby the input specification specifies the plurality of computing resources. The plurality of computing resources include one or more computing resources of a first computing system element of the plurality of computing system elements that are provided for a second computing system element of the plurality of computing system elements. The plurality of computing system elements are evaluated to identify whether the plurality of computing system elements are successfully executed and a report is generated based at least in part on the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Stickle, Michael Charles Pfeiffer, Karthikeyan Krishnan