Patents by Inventor Michael Risley

Michael Risley 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: 12356122
    Abstract: A pop-up sensor head with a camera transitions between a retracted and extended state. While retracted, the camera lens is covered. While extended, the camera lens is exposed and available for use. A motor maintains the sensor head at a setpoint position, such as in the retracted or extended state. A position data, such as from a Hall effect sensor associated with the motor, may be used to determine a displacement of the sensor head due to an external force being applied, such as a user pressing on the sensor head. Responsive to this input, the sensor head may transition between the retracted and extended state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Risley, Michael L Richards, Dean Zachary Dijour, Kyle Crouse, Varsha Iyengar
  • Patent number: 12244929
    Abstract: A sensor head transitions between a retracted and extended state. While retracted, sensors are covered. While extended, the sensors are exposed and may be used to acquire sensor data about the physical space. A force applied by a user, or a received command, may initiate transition. For example, a user may press on the sensor head to initiate retraction or extension. A motor provides a force to move the sensor head and generate haptic feedback, while a position encoder determines a displacement of the sensor head due to an external force being applied. Different applications of force by the user to the sensor head may result in different operations by the device. For example, a short push may retract the sensor head and disable the sensors for a specified time interval. In comparison a long push may retract the sensor head and disable the sensors until a specified clock time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Risley, Michael L. Richards, Dean Zachary Dijour, Kyle Crouse, Varsha Iyengar
  • Patent number: 11694684
    Abstract: Techniques for generating a skill using skill portion deviceskill portion devices are described. A user generates a skill by connecting skill portion deviceskill portion devices in a particular manner. As devices are connected, a speech controllable device or a distributed system may maintain a data structure representing a skill configuration corresponding to the presently connected devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Risley, Daniel Jeffrey Wilday, Sche I. Wang, Alex Carter
  • Publication number: 20220161131
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for controlling network applications. For instance, a remote system may send, over a network, data representing a state of an application to a display device, such as a television. The remote system may then receive, over the network, input data from a control device. The input data may represent one or more inputs received by the control device. Using the input data, the remote system may update the state of the application. The remote system may then send, to the display device, data representing the updated state of the application. In some instances, the remote system may further send, to the control device, audio data representing sound corresponding to the updated state of the application. The control device may synchronize outputting of the sound with the displaying the updated state of the application by the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Albert John Penello, Omar Sze Leung, Ravi Ichapurapu, Sameet Ramakrishnan, Marc Randall Whitten, Evan Fletcher Dougal, Michael Risley, Brian Fisher, Doyle Albert Martin
  • Patent number: 11161038
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for controlling network applications. For instance, a remote system may send, over a network, data representing a state of an application to a display device, such as a television. The remote system may then receive, over the network, input data from a control device. The input data may represent one or more inputs received by the control device. Using the input data, the remote system may update the state of the application. The remote system may then send, to the display device, data representing the updated state of the application. In some instances, the remote system may further send, to the control device, audio data representing sound corresponding to the updated state of the application. The control device may synchronize outputting of the sound with the displaying the updated state of the application by the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert John Penello, Omar Sze Leung, Ravi Ichapurapu, Sameet Ramakrishnan, Marc Randall Whitten, Evan Fletcher Dougal, Michael Risley, Brian Fisher, Doyle Albert Martin
  • Publication number: 20200038749
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for controlling network applications. For instance, a remote system may send, over a network, data representing a state of an application to a display device, such as a television. The remote system may then receive, over the network, input data from a control device. The input data may represent one or more inputs received by the control device. Using the input data, the remote system may update the state of the application. The remote system may then send, to the display device, data representing the updated state of the application. In some instances, the remote system may further send, to the control device, audio data representing sound corresponding to the updated state of the application. The control device may synchronize outputting of the sound with the displaying the updated state of the application by the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Albert John Penello, Omar Sze Leung, Ravi Ichapurapu, Sameet Ramakrishnan, Marc Randall Whitten, Evan Fletcher Dougal, Michael Risley, Brian Fisher, Doyle Albert Martin
  • Patent number: 10243871
    Abstract: Described are techniques for improving the performance of a first device that uses a first communication protocol by modifying the audio data rate associated with a second device that uses a second communication protocol. Data indicative of access and use of a communication channel by the first device may indicate a level of use associated with a communication channel or a level of channel resources used by the first device. If the parameters determined from the access data deviate from one or more threshold values, the audio data rate of the second device may be modified to change the quantity of resources used by the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Pratik Kalpesh Patel, Michael Risley, Milos Jorgovanovic