Patents by Inventor Nicholas Walker

Nicholas Walker 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: 20250138129
    Abstract: The invention proposes a transmitter (such as a gateway or base station, both indoors and outdoors) that actively creates multiple virtual anchors which are associated with certain known reflectors by means of a code, to allow low-capability receivers to be localized more easily. By measuring propagation features, such as, e.g., timing of receipt, of three or more coded beams, low capability receivers—even those with only a single antenna—can be localized, e.g., by the transmitter or by the receivers themselves. The receivers might localize themselves if each beam includes e.g. the location of the anchors, the location of transmitter, and the sending time. This has the advantage that the receivers do not have to send any information back to the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, Timothy Beard, Vignesh Raja Karuppiah Ramachandran, Oscar Garcia Morchon, Harry Michael Cronin
  • Patent number: 12277777
    Abstract: [Problem] The estimation accuracy of a class of an object is to be effectively improved. [Means of Solution] Provided is an information processing device including an estimation unit that estimates, based on an input image, a class of an object that is present in a real environment corresponding to an imaging range of the input image, wherein the object includes an acoustically useful object having an acoustic feature useful for class estimation, and the estimation unit estimates a class of the acoustically useful object based on acoustic data collected from around the acoustically useful object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsingying Ho, Christopher Wright, Nicholas Walker, Bernadette Elliot-Bowman
  • Patent number: 12198570
    Abstract: A surgical training system comprising circuitry configured to: obtain surgical information recorded during each of a plurality of surgical performances occurring at a plurality of identified times by each of a plurality of surgeons in a surgeon network; determine a level of influence of each surgeon using the surgical information and the identified times; and output an identifier of a surgeon with a level of influence which meets a predetermined condition as a candidate for receiving training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Wright, Nicholas Walker, Akinori Kamoda
  • Publication number: 20240394685
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus (20) according to an embodiment includes: a first ranging unit (203) including a light source unit (2110) and a light reception unit (2111) and configured to perform range-finding on a basis of light emitted from the light source unit and light received by the light reception unit, and a control unit (219) configured to control the first ranging unit, in which the control unit controls light emission from the light source unit included in the first ranging unit in response to transmission data to transmit the transmission data to another equipment using light and to cause the first ranging unit to execute the range-finding at least once before completing transmission of the transmission data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Kenta Endo, Mikio Ishimaru, Takao Tanikame, Sho Nishida, Nicholas Walker, Matthew Lawrenson, Harm Cronie
  • Publication number: 20240382125
    Abstract: An information processing system, the information processing apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: control a display device to display a first image to a user; detect a gaze location of the user corresponding to a portion of the first image observed by the user; acquire one or more content properties of the first image displayed to the user based on an analysis of the first image; acquire user response data relating to the user's autonomic response to the display of the first image; and determine a state of the user's mental condition based on the user response data, the one or more content properties of the first image and the gaze location of the user, wherein the mental condition includes at least one of anxiety and/or depression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Azuma, David Duffy, Christopher Wright, Nicholas Walker
  • Publication number: 20240366130
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided for measuring a level of cognitive function in a user. the information processing apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: acquire a function specific to a user, the function characterizing the user's perception of sound: generate an audio sound based on the function specific to the user, wherein the audio sound is generated. for the user, to originate from a source location within a three-dimensional environment: determine a second location within the three-dimensional environment from where the user considers the audio sound to have originated based on a response of the user to the generation of the audio sound: and measure the level of cognitive function in the user in accordance with a difference between the source location and the second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Risa Matsuoka, David Duffy, Christopher Wright, Nicholas Walker
  • Patent number: 12131419
    Abstract: A method of rendering an image includes receiving information of a virtual camera, including a camera position and a camera orientation defining a virtual screen; receiving information of a target screen, including a target screen position and a target screen orientation defining a plurality of pixels, each respective pixel corresponding to a respective UV coordinate on the target screen; for each respective pixel of the target screen: determining a respective XY coordinate of a corresponding point on the virtual screen based on the camera position, the camera orientation, the target screen position, the target screen orientation, and the respective UV coordinate; tracing one or more rays from the virtual camera through the corresponding point on the virtual screen toward a virtual scene; and estimating a respective color value for the respective pixel based on incoming light from virtual objects in the virtual scene that intersect the one or more rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, David Weitzberg, André Mazzone
  • Publication number: 20240356625
    Abstract: The invention proposes a system and method for determining and controlling a reconfigurable relay device (e.g., a reconfigurable intelligent surface, RIS, or a smart repeater), wherein the reconfigurable relay device is registered and a wireless communication path is established from a network (e.g. access device) via the reconfigurable relay device to a terminal device. The network registers the reconfigurable relay device and determines parameters needed for its control. The control may be achieved by validated and accepted commands and queries. A relay state of the relay device may be set so that a beam for the wireless communication path is correctly redirected at the terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, Timothy Beard, Esko Olavi Dijk, Oscar Garcia Morchon, Harry Michael Cronin, Walter Dees
  • Patent number: 11899108
    Abstract: A guiding system guides an autonomous movable object. The guiding system has a time-of-flight imaging system, which has a first light source to illuminate a first field of detection; and a light sensor. The light sensor detects first and second reflected light. The first reflected light has light emitted by the first light source reflected at the first field of detection. The second reflected light originates from a second field of detection illuminated by a second light source, which is independent from the first light source and is coupled to a different movable object. The imaging system differentiates between the first and second reflected light, determines a depth map of the first field of detection based on the detected first reflected light, and generates feedback. The imaging system has a motion controller that receives the feedback, and modifies a motion of the autonomous movable object based on the feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Jan Jasper Van den Berg, Matthew John Lawrenson, Nicholas Walker
  • Publication number: 20230364013
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to oral dosage forms and processes for producing the oral dosage forms. The dosage forms include an Epinephrine hormone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, an antioxidant, and a chelating agent. The antioxidant can be sodium metabisulfate and the chelating agent can be edetate disodium (“EDTA”).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Catalent U.K. Swindon Zydis Limited
    Inventors: Leon Paul GROTHER, Nicholas Walker BARRAS, Philip AXE, Michael John HUTCHINSON
  • Patent number: 11796640
    Abstract: A time-of-flight depth camera includes a VCSEL array, an optical arrangement, an evaluator and a light detector having at least one detector pixel. The VCSEL array or the optical arrangement are arranged to provide different illumination patterns in a reference plane in a defined field-of-view of the time-of-flight depth camera. The light detector is arranged to detect the different illumination patterns and the evaluator is arranged to reconstruct a depth image of the field of view with a resolution of a predefined number of pixels P based on the detected different illumination patterns. A number of the detected different illumination patterns N is at least 5% of the predefined number of pixels P, preferably at least 10% of the predefined number of pixels P and most preferred at least 20% of the predefined number of pixels P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Matthew John Lawrenson, Joachim Wilhelm Hellmig, Holger Joachim Moench, Nicholas Walker, Jan Jasper Van Den Berg
  • Publication number: 20230293236
    Abstract: A device for validating a surgical simulation is provided in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the device including circuitry configured to: identify a portion of interest of a surgical event based on surgical information; provide an interactive surgical simulation to a network of surgeons, the interactive surgical simulation including the portion of interest of the surgical event; receive performance data from the network of surgeons, the performance data being indicative of actions taken by one or more surgeons in response to the interactive surgical simulation; and validate at least one of the portion of interest and/or the interactive surgical simulation based on the received performance data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher WRIGHT, Nicholas WALKER, Naoyuki HIROTA
  • Publication number: 20230298482
    Abstract: A surgical training system comprising circuitry configured to: obtain surgical information recorded during each of a plurality of surgical performances occurring at a plurality of identified times by each of a plurality of surgeons in a surgeon network; determine a level of influence of each surgeon using the surgical information and the identified times; and output an identifier of a surgeon with a level of influence which meets a predetermined condition as a candidate for receiving training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher WRIGHT, Nicholas WALKER, Akinori KAMODA
  • Publication number: 20230204172
    Abstract: The present technology provides an electric fireplace insert and methods for simulating the light and sound effects of real burning fuel. Modular components are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, Troy Sanders, Tyler Nemes
  • Publication number: 20230145790
    Abstract: A device, comprising circuitry configured to: receive surgical data indicating a parameter of a surgical instrument used during a surgical procedure and a stress related parameter of a member of a surgical team performing the surgical procedure; and associating the surgical data with the stress related parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas WALKER, Christopher WRIGHT, Akinori KAMODA
  • Patent number: 11580499
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for information retrieval and a processing system of a computer-implemented information retrieval system, an input text is received by a Natural Language Processing, NLP, suite, wherein the NLP suite comprises a plurality of models. At least one of the plurality of models is a model trained using selected features. The selected features are determined using a feature selection process. The input text is processed by each one of the plurality of models. An intermediate representation of the input text is generated by each one of the plurality of models. An enhanced representation of the input text is generated by combining a plurality of the generated intermediate representations. Information is retrieved based on the enhanced representation of the input text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: RANDSTAD N.V.
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, Yirui Zhuang, Sean Sanders
  • Patent number: 11544394
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a processor that generates a plurality of pieces of authority information for obtaining user information classified into a plurality of categories, in which the processor generates the authority information to correspond to each of a plurality of the categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Lawrenson, Nicholas Walker, Masaaki Isozu
  • Publication number: 20220162541
    Abstract: In this invention there is provided an illumination system for a photosynthetic organism-growing medium. This system comprises a waterproof housing arranged to be inserted into a photosynthetic organism-growing medium and having a length along a longitudinal axis that is greater than a width. It also comprises a light source arranged to provide illumination along the length of the housing, and a diffuser arranged within the waterproof housing, the diffuser having a narrow end directed towards the light source and a wider end away from the light source and having a diffusive reflective surface arranged to diffusively reflect light from the light source to outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, Michael Jackson
  • Publication number: 20210407174
    Abstract: A method of rendering an image includes receiving information of a virtual camera, including a camera position and a camera orientation defining a virtual screen; receiving information of a target screen, including a target screen position and a target screen orientation defining a plurality of pixels, each respective pixel corresponding to a respective UV coordinate on the target screen; for each respective pixel of the target screen: determining a respective XY coordinate of a corresponding point on the virtual screen based on the camera position, the camera orientation, the target screen position, the target screen orientation, and the respective UV coordinate; tracing one or more rays from the virtual camera through the corresponding point on the virtual screen toward a virtual scene; and estimating a respective color value for the respective pixel based on incoming light from virtual objects in the virtual scene that intersect the one or more rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, David Weitzberg, André Mazzone
  • Publication number: 20210372627
    Abstract: Provided is an electric fireplace system for simulating the light and sound effects of real burning fuel. The system includes modular components that are configured to be packaged, shipped, stored and assembled in a deconstructed state. The electric fireplace system comprising a modular fireplace insert comprising an insert housing that defines a cavity. A simulated fuel source for simulating a fire display, the simulated fuel source includes a first housing that is configured to be positioned in the insert housing. A heater assembly for generating warm air, the heater assembly including a second housing that is configured to be positioned in the insert housing at a positioned spaced from and above the simulated fuel source within the cavity of the insert housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Walker, Troy Sanders, Tyler Nemes