Patents by Inventor Robert A. Nicholas

Robert A. Nicholas 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: 11500067
    Abstract: Various lens designs for use in Time of Flight (ToF) sensor systems are discussed. Improvements to a ToF sensor system may be realized by, for example, incorporating a lens having particular features, such as a relatively short track length, fast lens speed (e.g., low f-number), low telecentricity, relatively flat field illumination, and fairly low cost. In some examples, such a lens of a ToF sensor system may be a lens assembly having a fixed focal length and that avoids use of lenses having aspheric surfaces so as to achieve relatively low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11483501
    Abstract: A blemish detection and characterization system and techniques for an optical imaging device includes determining a ratio of the light intensity of the image lost to the blemish relative to an expected light intensity of the image without the blemish. The system and technique may include receiving an image, transforming an image into a processed image with transformations and filters, as well as determining a relative magnitude of an intensity of a portion of the processed image relative to another area of the image. The system and technique may include taking an action based on the relative magnitude including rejecting a sensor, reworking the sensor, cleaning the sensor, or providing information about the blemish to a system to use in weighing data collected from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Moor, Nathan Duarte
  • Patent number: 11378523
    Abstract: An imaging device blemish detection test enclosure and techniques for an optical imaging device includes a mounting structure for mounting an optical imaging device, a first body with a concave surface, and a second body holding the mounting structure relative to the first body. The mounting structure and the second body may orient an optical axis of a lens of the optical imaging device towards the concave surface and locate the lens relative to the concave surface where the interface between the first and second bodies is outside of a lens field of view of the lens. The system may include a light source disposed in the second body and directed towards the concave surface of the of the first body providing an evenly illuminating the concave surface. The concave surface may include a surface of a spherical sector greater than a hemisphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Moor, Nathan Duarte
  • Publication number: 20220180539
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include returns associated with highly reflective objects that cause glare. In some examples, a depth of a sensed surface is determined from the sensor data and additional pixels at the same depth are identified. The subset of pixels at the depth are filtered by comparing a measured intensity value to a threshold intensity value for the depth. Other threshold intensity values can be applied to subsets of pixels at different depths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20220180538
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. The sensor may generate first image data at a first configuration and second image data at a second configuration. A disambiguated depth of a surface may be determined from the first image data and the second image data. If the disambiguated depth is greater than a nominal maximum depth of the sensor in the first configuration, an intensity of the surface may be determined from the first image data. If the intensity meets or exceeds a threshold intensity, the surface may be determined to be beyond the nominal maximum depth. If the intensity is less than the threshold intensity, an actual depth of the surface may be determined form the second image data as a distance less than the nominal maximum depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11194027
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include noise. In some examples, the sensor data is filtered by comparing a measured intensity value to a threshold intensity value. The threshold intensity value can be determined on a per-pixel basis using depth information and/or intensity information for a corresponding image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Mehran Ferdowsi
  • Publication number: 20210316731
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling gear selection in a transmission of a vehicle in response to a directional shift requested by an operator and to a control system for controlling gear selection to manage directional shifts in vehicles, from a first direct to a second direction (e.g. forward to reverse). The method compares the current transmission output speed with a predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed. If the current transmission output speed is less than or equal to the predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed, the transmission is caused to execute a direction shift from the initial first direction gear to the same second direction gear, or a next highest second direction gear if there is no second direction gear which corresponds to the initial first direction gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas HARPER, Abhishek AWANA, Christopher L. WYNKOOP, Mariappan PARAMASIVAN
  • Publication number: 20210262565
    Abstract: A method of controlling gear selection in a vehicle transmission comprises detecting a change in a direction control signal (DCS) from a neutral signal state. If the current TOS is less than or equal to a predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of a plurality of first direction gears if the DCS was changed to a first direction signal state or one of a plurality of second direction gears if the DCS was changed to a second direction signal state. If the current TOS is greater than the predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of the plurality of first direction gears if a machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the first direction or one of the plurality of second direction gears if the machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Shanmugahari Murugesan
  • Publication number: 20210256864
    Abstract: A virtual-immersion computer that provides webpages to facilitate virtual immersion. The system uses a media-streamer computer processor for broadcasting media comprising a simulation-video stream, an audio stream, a radio-transmission-stream. The media is structured within a web frame of webpages by the processor and an audio frame, a picture frame, and/or a video with audio frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Across the Street Productions Inc.
    Inventors: John Nicholas Brunacini, Robert Nicholas Brunacini, Alan Vincent Brunacini
  • Publication number: 20210206715
    Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of formulae: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the variables, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, n, and m are defined herein. These compounds are useful for treating Gram-negative bacteria infections. Also disclosed are methods of making these compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicants: Duke University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Pei Zhou, Eric J. Toone, Robert A. Nicholas, Ramesh Gopalaswamy, Xiaofei Liang, Frank Navas, III
  • Publication number: 20210189671
    Abstract: A bollard apparatus for use as a vehicle barrier includes: a plurality of bollard members; a plurality of separate foot members adapted for ground engagement by placement upon or embedment within a surface, one or more of which is attached to at least one bollard member upstanding therefrom, wherein at least one foot member includes: a front edge; a rear edge; at least one lateral edge which opposes a corresponding lateral edge of a neighbouring foot member, wherein at least one lateral edge extends between the front and rear edges and is non-planar so as to include: a first edge part; and, a second edge part that is laterally offset from the first edge part, wherein the bollard apparatus further includes a coupling assembly which couples the foot member to the neighbouring foot member, wherein the coupling assembly is attached to the lateral edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: ATG Access Ltd
    Inventor: Robert Nicholas BALL
  • Publication number: 20210181389
    Abstract: An article having a retroreflective marking and non-retroreflective, traditional marking is provided. The article presents as having a first design when under common overhead or environmental lighting, and having a second different design when the retroreflective marking is illuminated with a direct light, reflecting the light back to its source to cause an illuminated appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher R. Sossong, Robert Nicholas Murray
  • Patent number: 11034649
    Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of formulae: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the variables, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, n, and m are defined herein. These compounds are useful for treating Gram-negative bacteria infections. Also disclosed are methods of making these compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: DUKE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Pei Zhou, Eric J. Toone, Robert A. Nicholas, Ramesh Gopalaswamy, Xiaofei Liang, Frank Navas, III
  • Patent number: 11011070
    Abstract: A virtual-immersion computer that provides webpages to facilitate virtual immersion. The system uses a media-streamer computer processor for broadcasting media comprising a simulation-video stream, an audio stream, a radio-transmission-stream. The media is structured within a web frame of webpages by the processor and an audio frame, a picture frame, and/or a video with audio frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Across The Street Productions Inc.
    Inventors: John Nicholas Brunacini, Robert Nicholas Brunacini, Alan Vincent Brunacini
  • Patent number: 10972638
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be impacted by glare. In some examples, corrected data is generated by quantifying glare. A glare region including pixels that are not associated with an object in a range of the time-of-flight sensor may provide glare intensity and glare depth values used to quantify the glare. The glare intensity and glare depth may be used to correct measured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Harrison Thomas Waschura, Joseph Patrick Warga, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Robert Nicholas Moor, Ryan McMichael
  • Publication number: 20210046367
    Abstract: A bat swing training device has a base assembly, an arm assembly adjustably connected to the base assembly, and a suction assembly that extends through and out of the arm assembly to hold a ball in a stationary position. The suction assembly includes a coil hose connected to a pump, and an upper hose connected to the coil hose at one end, and removably connected to a nozzle assembly at an opposite end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Kibbe, Grant David Roepsch, Aaron Matthew Tjaden, Ryan Patrick McGuire
  • Patent number: D931265
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean
  • Patent number: D931842
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean
  • Patent number: D964333
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean
  • Patent number: D964334
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean