Patents by Inventor Michael D. Marra

Michael D. Marra 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: 10761648
    Abstract: A touch screen device and method of controlling the device wherein the device responds to user touch screen inputs only when the device is unlocked and the user's visual gaze is directed at the device screen. The device employs a front-facing camera and gaze detection technology to determine whether the user is looking directly at the device display screen. If the user is not looking at the screen, touch input commands are ignored by the device, even if the device is unlocked, thereby preventing unintended application actions due to incidental screen contact. The gaze detection interlock feature may be enabled or disabled through configuration settings. The gaze detection interlock feature, if enabled, may respond only to the primary device user's face and visual gaze, or may respond when any person's visual gaze is directed to the device screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventor: Michael D. Marra
  • Publication number: 20200225799
    Abstract: A touch screen device and method of controlling the device wherein the device responds to user touch screen inputs only when the device is unlocked and the user's visual gaze is directed at the device screen. The device employs a front-facing camera and gaze detection technology to determine whether the user is looking directly at the device display screen. If the user is not looking at the screen, touch input commands are ignored by the device, even if the device is unlocked, thereby preventing unintended application actions due to incidental screen contact. The gaze detection interlock feature may be enabled or disabled through configuration settings. The gaze detection interlock feature, if enabled, may respond only to the primary device user's face and visual gaze, or may respond when any person's visual gaze is directed to the device screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Michael D. Marra
  • Publication number: 20040267689
    Abstract: A system and method for managing changes to items associated with a complex system of inter-related items. The inventive system includes a database having a plurality of records, wherein each record includes information concerning an item associated with the assembled end product. The information contained in each record includes an identification of other items that could be affected by a change to the item associated with the record. The system further includes a computer-user interface displaying a user-updateable list of affected items and a user-updateable list of non-affected items. The list of affected items and the list of non-affected items are created by assigning items that may be affected by a change to one of these lists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Gavlak, Michael D. Marra, Lori H. Runk