Patents by Inventor Robert A. Rice

Robert A. Rice 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: 12243101
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for item acquisition by selection of a virtual object placed in digital environment. According to an aspect, a system may include a display, a user interface, an image capture device, and at least one processor and memory. The processor(s) and memory may be configured to receive a coordinate for placement of a virtual object in a digital environment. The processor(s) and memory may also control the display to display the virtual object when a position corresponding to the received coordinate is within a field of view of the image capture device. Further, the processor(s) and memory may receive an input via the user interface for selecting the virtual object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Inventor: Robert A. Rice
  • Publication number: 20240242287
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for item acquisition by selection of a virtual object placed in digital environment. According to an aspect, a system may include a display, a user interface, an image capture device, and at least one processor and memory. The processor(s) and memory may be configured to receive a coordinate for placement of a virtual object in a digital environment. The processor(s) and memory may also control the display to display the virtual object when a position corresponding to the received coordinate is within a field of view of the image capture device. Further, the processor(s) and memory may receive an input via the user interface for selecting the virtual object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventor: Robert A. Rice
  • Patent number: 11656835
    Abstract: Systems and methods for item acquisition by selection of a virtual object placed in digital environment are disclosed. A processor(s) and memory may be configured to receive a coordinate for placement of a 2D or 3D virtual object in a 3D digital environment, including a digital twin of a real-world location, control the display to display the virtual object when a position corresponding to the received coordinate is within a field of view of the image capture device. The system receives an input via the user interface for selecting virtual objects which are then tracked in both the real-world and 3D digital environment simultaneously. The system enabling the accurate updating and display of all augmented reality and virtual reality content and digital twin data for a seamless blend of both to provide a shared cross-modal experience for all users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Robert A. Rice
  • Publication number: 20210279695
    Abstract: Systems and methods for item acquisition by selection of a virtual object placed in digital environment are disclosed. A processor(s) and memory may be configured to receive a coordinate for placement of a virtual object in a digital environment; control the display to display the virtual object when a position corresponding to the received coordinate is within a field of view of the image capture device; receive an input via the user interface for selecting the virtual object; and associate with a user a credit for acquisition of an item associated with the virtual object in response to receipt of the input. Rights created in a virtual goods object are made equal to rights existing in or created in a real-world asset. Ownership of the virtual goods object conveys ownership or other property rights in the real-world asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: Robert A. Rice
  • Patent number: 11049082
    Abstract: Systems and methods for item acquisition by selection of a virtual object placed in digital environment are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system may include a display, a user interface, an image capture device, and at least one processor and memory. The processor(s) and memory may be configured to receive a coordinate for placement of a virtual object in a digital environment; control the display to display the virtual object when a position corresponding to the received coordinate is within a field of view of the image capture device; receive an input via the user interface for selecting the virtual object; and associate with a user a credit for acquisition of an item associated with the virtual object in response to receipt of the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Robert A. Rice
  • Publication number: 20190311341
    Abstract: Systems and methods for item acquisition by selection of a virtual object placed in digital environment are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system may include a display, a user interface, an image capture device, and at least one processor and memory. The processor(s) and memory may be configured to receive a coordinate for placement of a virtual object in a digital environment; control the display to display the virtual object when a position corresponding to the received coordinate is within a field of view of the image capture device; receive an input via the user interface for selecting the virtual object; and associate with a user a credit for acquisition of an item associated with the virtual object in response to receipt of the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventor: Robert A. Rice
  • Patent number: 5966391
    Abstract: A polarization controlled laser system receiving a pump laser beam includes a long laser cavity for precluding mode hopping. Preferably, the long laser cavity is defined by first and second dichroic reflectors, a rare earth doped optical fiber disposed between the first and second dichroic reflectors for amplifying the pump laser beam to thereby produce an amplified laser beam, a polarization controller for controlling polarization of the amplified laser beam, and a polarization selector for selecting the polarization of the amplified laser beam. The polarization selector can include a polarizing optical fiber while the polarization controller advantageously may include a polarization maintaining optical fiber. Alternatively, the rare-earth doped optical fiber, the polarization controller, and the polarization selector are all formed from a single polarizing rare-earth doped optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Robert A. Rice
  • Patent number: 4296770
    Abstract: A temperature responsive drain valve (10) is disclosed for draining fluid lines (12) to prevent freeze up damage. The valve includes a housing (14) having a fluid passageway (15) therethrough. A temperature responsive thermal actuator (20) is mounted to the housing adjacent fluid inlet passageways (34). The actuator includes a temperature sensitive portion (22,23), which extends exteriorly of the valve housing and an output member which extends into the fluid passageway. A poppet valve member (42) has a self-aligning valve surface (46) and is mounted in the fluid passageway and biased toward a valve seat by a conical spring (47) which extends over a cylindrical portion (43) of the valve member. Cylindrical portion (43) is also guided by and extends through an opening (49) in a reaction plate (48). An outer biasing spring (51) reacts against the output member through a cage arrangement (54, 58, 67).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Rice