Patents by Inventor Paul Barnard

Paul Barnard 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: 20230138487
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of generating an environment reference model for positioning comprising: receiving multiple data sets representing a scanned environment including information about a type of sensor used and data for determining an absolute position of objects or feature points represented by the data sets; extracting one or more objects or feature points from each data set; determining a position of each object or feature point in a reference coordinate system; generating a three-dimensional vector representation of the scanned environment aligned with the reference coordinate system including representation of the objects or feature points at corresponding locations, creating links between the objects or feature points in the three dimensional vector model with an identified type of sensor by which they can be detected in the environment; and storing the three-dimensional vector model representation and the links in a retrievable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Thiel, Paul Barnard, Bingtao Gao
  • Patent number: 11527766
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improved swirl burners, particularly, but not limited to, swirl burners used in fuel cell systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited
    Inventors: Martin Schmidt, Paul Barnard, Tony Toher, Isaac Cottereau, Michael McLorn, Oliver Postlethwaite, Simone Dozio
  • Patent number: 11513211
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of generating an environment reference model for positioning comprising: receiving multiple data sets representing a scanned environment including information about a type of sensor used and data for determining an absolute position of objects or feature points represented by the data sets; extracting one or more objects or feature points from each data set; determining a position of each object or feature point in a reference coordinate system; generating a three-dimensional vector representation of the scanned environment aligned with the reference coordinate system including representation of the objects or feature points at corresponding locations; creating links between the objects or feature points in the three-dimensional vector model with an identified type of sensor by which they can be detected in the environment; and storing the three-dimensional vector model representation and the links in a retrievable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Thiel, Paul Barnard, Bingtao Gao
  • Publication number: 20220316698
    Abstract: A steam generator for a fuel cell system having a heat exchanger (34) with at least one internal heat exchange surface, a water inflow pipe (46), a dripper head (52) with a flow passageway fluidly connected to the water inflow pipe (46). The dripper head (52) extends inside the heat exchanger (52) above the heat exchange surface for feeding water down onto the heat exchange surface for conversion into steam. The dripper head (52) has outlet holes (56) spaced along the flow passageway and between adjacent outlet (holes 56) the dripper head has a stepped profile on at least its underside to prevent droplets from adjacent holes coalescing. A fuel inflow pipe can have a section mounted coaxially to a part of the water inflow pipe (46). The fuel inflow pipe's section can surround the water inflow pipe's part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew BALLARD, Colin BENNETT, Joshua RYLEY, Martin SCHMIDT, Oliver POSTLETHWAITE, Paul BARNARD, Simone DOZIO, Tomasz DOMANSKI
  • Publication number: 20210304518
    Abstract: Method and system for generating an environment model for positioning include the generation of a 3D model of a scanned environment from a mobile entity, the 3D model being construed as a point cloud. A segmentation of the point cloud of the 3D model in a plurality of segmented portions of the point cloud is performed, and 3D objects are modelled directly from the point cloud by analyzing each of the segmented portions of the point cloud. The generated 3D model of the scanned environment is matched with an existing 3D model of the environment. A database representing of an improved 3D model of the environment is generated by aligning the existing 3D model of the environment and the generated 3D model of the scanned environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Bingtao Gao, Christian Thiel, Paul Barnard
  • Patent number: 11085774
    Abstract: A method and a system for generating and updating a digital road description database containing object-based information about at least one of a road object, a road furniture object and a geographic object is disclosed. A vehicle is collecting ambient data like images along multiple sections of its path, generating third data sets comprising at least location information and detailed object-based information. The third data sets are forwarded to a server database. The database identifies common groups of object reference points in multiple vehicle path sections and generates alignment functions for matching and/or aligning the at least one group of object reference points in at least two of the vehicle path sections relating to the same part of the road. The same alignment function is applied to all other third data sets of the same vehicle path section. The database updates the fourth data sets in the database based on processing the third data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Thiel, Paul Barnard, James Herbst, Ralf Johannes Lenninger, Frank Foersterling
  • Patent number: 10970317
    Abstract: A method and a system of a two-step object data processing by a vehicle and a database for generating and updating a digital road description database containing object-based information about road objects is disclosed. First, the server database comprises fourth data sets and generates and forwards first data sets to the vehicle, which are related to the area of interest of the vehicle. The vehicle is collecting a plurality of ambient data sets at least along a specific section of its path. It is performing the first step of object data processing by evaluating a selection of the plurality of ambient data sets and generating at least one second data set comprising at least location information and detailed object-based information. It further generates third data sets containing differences between the object-based information of the second data sets and the object-based information of the first data sets and forwards the third data sets to the server database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Thiel, Paul Barnard, James Herbst, Ralf Johannes Lenninger, Frank Foersterling
  • Publication number: 20210088648
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of generating an environment reference model for positioning comprising: receiving multiple data sets representing a scanned environment including information about a type of sensor used and data for determining an absolute position of objects or feature points represented by the data sets; extracting one or more objects or feature points from each data set; determining a position of each object or feature point in a reference coordinate system; generating a three-dimensional vector representation of the scanned environment aligned with the reference coordinate system including representation of the objects or feature points at corresponding locations; creating links between the objects or feature points in the three-dimensional vector model with an identified type of sensor by which they can be detected in the environment; and storing the three-dimensional vector model representation and the links in a retrievable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Thiel, Paul Barnard, Bingtao Gao
  • Patent number: 10741855
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improved swirl burners, particularly, but not limited to, swirl burners used in fuel cell systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited
    Inventors: Martin Schmidt, Paul Barnard, Tony Toher
  • Patent number: 10615439
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improved fuel cell systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: CERES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Barnard, Mark Selby, Andrew Hazell, Christopher John Evans
  • Patent number: 10608269
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a controller, a temperature sensor that has a physical presence in a conduit within the system to measure the temperature of the fluid at a point within the conduit (Tg) and a wall temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a wall of the conduit (Tw). The controller takes Tg and Tw as inputs and applies an equation with known constants to calculate measurement error of Tg based on the local flow temperature and geometry and arrives at a calculated temperature. The equation may be applied iteratively until the difference between the calculated temperature and Tg is below an acceptable value when the calculated temperature can then be assumed to be an accurate representation of the actual gas temperature at the Tg measurement point. The direction of calculation is controlled by the relative difference between Tg and Tw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: CERES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Farzad Barari, Paul Barnard, Robert Morgan, Mark Selby
  • Publication number: 20200052311
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improved swirl burners, particularly, but not limited to, swirl burners used in fuel cell systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Schmidt, Paul Barnard, Tony Toher, Isaac Cottereau, Michael McLorn, Oliver Postlethwaite
  • Publication number: 20180246907
    Abstract: A method and a system of a two-step object data processing by a vehicle and a database for generating and updating a digital road description database containing object-based information about road objects is disclosed. First, the server database comprises fourth data sets and generates and forwards first data sets to the vehicle, which are related to the area of interest of the vehicle. The vehicle is collecting a plurality of ambient data sets at least along a specific section of its path. It is performing the first step of object data processing by evaluating a selection of the plurality of ambient data sets and generating at least one second data set comprising at least location information and detailed object-based information. It further generates third data sets containing differences between the object-based information of the second data sets and the object-based information of the first data sets and forwards the third data sets to the server database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Christian THIEL, Paul BARNARD, James HERBST, Ralf Johannes LENNINGER, Frank FOERSTERLING
  • Publication number: 20180239032
    Abstract: A method and a system for precision vehicle positioning based on a digital road description database containing fourth data sets with object-based information about at least one of a road object, a road furniture object and a geographic object is disclosed. First data sets based on the fourth data sets are forwarded to a vehicle. The vehicle is collecting ambient data like images along its path, generating second data sets comprising at least location information and detailed object-based information. During driving and after generating second data sets, the vehicle tries to identify in the second data sets the same driving-relevant objects and/or object reference points and/or groups of driving-relevant objects and/or object reference points as are contained in the first data sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Christian THIEL, Paul BARNARD, James HERBST, Ralf Johannes LENNINGER, Frank FOERSTERLING
  • Publication number: 20180231387
    Abstract: A method and a system for generating and updating a digital road description database containing object-based information about at least one of a road object, a road furniture object and a geographic object is disclosed. A vehicle is collecting ambient data like images along multiple sections of its path, generating third data sets comprising at least location information and detailed object-based information. The third data sets are forwarded to a server database. The database identifies common groups of object reference points in multiple vehicle path sections and generates alignment functions for matching and/or aligning the at least one group of object reference points in at least two of the vehicle path sections relating to the same part of the road. The same alignment function is applied to all other third data sets of the same vehicle path section. The database updates the fourth data sets in the database based on processing the third data sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Christian THIEL, Paul BARNARD, James HERBST, Ralf Johannes LENNINGER, Frank FOERSTERLING
  • Publication number: 20170346107
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improved swirl burners, particularly, but not limited to, swirl burners used in fuel cell systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Martin Schmidt, Paul Barnard, Tony Toher
  • Patent number: 9732982
    Abstract: A boiler unit (100) housed in an enclosure, the boiler unit (100) configured to receive a solid state combined heat and power generating device (130). The boiler unit (100) comprises a heating device (110) to produce heat; and a control unit (120) to independently control each of the heating device (110) and the solid state combined heat and power generating device (130). The boiler unit (100) is operable without the solid state combined heat and power generating device (130) being present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited
    Inventors: James Devriendt, Christopher John Evans, Robert Morgan, Paul Barnard, Bruce Girvan
  • Publication number: 20170069925
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a controller, a temperature sensor that has a physical presence in a conduit within the system to measure the temperature of the fluid at a point within the conduit (Tg) and a wall temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a wall of the conduit (Tw). The controller takes Tg and Tw as inputs and applies an equation with known constants to calculate measurement error of Tg based on the local flow temperature and geometry and arrives at a calculated temperature. The equation may be applied iteratively until the difference between the calculated temperature and Tg is below an acceptable value when the calculated temperature can then be assumed to be an accurate representation of the actual gas temperature at the Tg measurement point. The direction of calculation is controlled by the relative difference between Tg and Tw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Farzad Barari, Paul Barnard, Robert Morgan
  • Publication number: 20160141692
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improved fuel cell systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited
    Inventors: Paul BARNARD, Mark SELBY, Andrew HAZELL, Christopher John EVANS
  • Patent number: 9093674
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with improved fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of operation of a fuel cell stack assembly, particularly with improved gas flow and thermal management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited
    Inventors: Paul Barnard, Neville Haidar, Matthew Harrington