Patents by Inventor Robert C. Petroski
Robert C. Petroski 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).
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Patent number: 10230267Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable storage mediums including computer-readable instructions and/or circuitry for control of transmission to a target device with communicating with one or more sensors in an ad-hoc sensor network may implement operations including, but not limited to: generating electrical power from at least one ambient source via at least one transducer; powering at least one transmitter via the electrical power from at least one ambient source to wirelessly transmit one or more sensor operation activation signals to one or more sensors; and at least one of powering one or more sensing operations of the one or more sensors or charging one or more power storage devices of the one or more sensors via the one or more sensor operation activation signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Matthew G. Dyor, Peter N. Glaskowsky, Kimberly D. A. Hallman, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Michael F. Koenig, Robert W. Lord, Richard T. Lord, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Desney S. Tan, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190071179Abstract: A motor vehicle system includes a motor vehicle including an aircraft landing portion, and an actively propelled unmanned aircraft configured to be supported on the aircraft landing portion. The vehicle and aircraft are configured such that the vehicle can provide at least one of fuel and electrical energy to the aircraft while the aircraft is supported on the aircraft landing portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: Elwha LLCInventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Thomas Allan Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
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Publication number: 20190043282Abstract: An identification device includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly including one or more identity sensors configured to generate identity sense signals associated with a physical characteristic of an individual subject; circuitry configured to receive the identity sense signals, the circuitry including an identity comparison module configured to compare identity sense signals to reference data indicative of physical characteristics associated with an identity of at least one individual to determine whether the identity sense signals correspond to the identity of the at least one individual; and a reporter configured to generate communication signals associated with a comparison of the identity sense signals to reference data, the reporter including a transmitter or transceiver configured to transmit the communication signals to a system for association with a file corresponding to the at least one individual.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Melanie K. Kitzan, Gary L. McKnight, Robert C. Petroski, Elizabeth A. Sweeney
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Publication number: 20190043283Abstract: An system includes, but is not limited to, a control system; and a device including a deformable substrate, a sensor assembly including one or more identity sensors configured to generate identity sense signals associated with a physical characteristic of an individual subject, circuitry configured to receive the identity sense signals, the circuitry including an identity comparison module configured to compare identity sense signals to reference data indicative of physical characteristics associated with an identity of at least one individual to determine whether the identity sense signals correspond to the identity of the at least one individual, and a reporter configured to generate communication signals associated with a comparison of the identity sense signals to reference data, the reporter including a transmitter or transceiver configured to transmit the communication signals to a system for association with a file corresponding to at least one of the individual subject or the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Melanie K. Kitzan, Gary L. McKnight, Robert C. Petroski, Elizabeth A. Sweeney
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Patent number: 10184867Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus including a movable member, a sensor coupled to the movable member and configured to acquire compliance data regarding a liner disposed within a shell of a helmet through engagement of the sensor with the liner, and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
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Patent number: 10181247Abstract: A system for predicting and warning of impacts includes a sensor located remote from a user and configured to acquire user data regarding motion of the user and object data regarding motion of the object; and a processing circuit configured to predict a potential impact between the user and the object based on the user data and the object data; and control operation of a user-wearable warning device to provide a warning output to the user in advance of a predicted time of the potential impact.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Paul G. Allen, Philip V. Bayly, David Lozoff Brody, Alistair K. Chan, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, William David Duncan, Richard Glen Ellenbogen, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, Raul Radovitzky, Anthony Vinson Smith, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
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Patent number: 10176505Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for use in generating one or more customized food items that are customized specifically for the one or more users, the user information to be acquired including at least one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of the one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the one or more customized food items having been customized to show one or more visual indicators that provide customized information that has been customized in accordance, at least in part, with the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Pablos Holman, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud
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Publication number: 20190006031Abstract: An identification device includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate configured to conform to a skin surface of a body portion of a healthcare provider; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including one or more identity sensors configured to generate one or more identity sense signals associated with at least one physical characteristic of an individual subject other than the healthcare provider; circuitry configured to compare the one or more identity sense signals generated by the sensor assembly to reference data indicative of one or more physical characteristics associated with an identity; and a reporter configured to generate one or more communication signals associated with a comparison of the one or more identity sense signals generated by the sensor assembly to reference data indicative of one or more physical characteristics associated with an identity of at least one individual.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Gary L. McKnight, Robert C. Petroski, Elizabeth A. Sweeney
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Patent number: 10141073Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling acquisition of sensor information, including: one or more physiological sensors and a computing device including a processor programmed to query the physiological sensors to measure one or more physiological parameters of an individual in response to at least one flag indicating a need to measure the one or more physiological parameters; receive a set of sensor values from the physiological sensors; assign a quality value to the set of sensor values received from the physiological sensors; retain the set of sensor values if the assigned quality value of the set of sensor values meets or exceeds a minimum quality value threshold; and update the at least one flag if the assigned quality value of the set of sensor values meets or exceeds the minimum quality value threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Hon Wah Chin, Roderick A. Hyde, Robert C. Petroski, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 10128003Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include fuel ducts, fuel assemblies, methods of making fuel ducts, methods of making a fuel assembly, and methods of using a fuel assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLCInventors: Robert C. Petroski, Gary Povirk, Philip Schloss, Ashok Odedra, Michael E. Cohen
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Publication number: 20180322968Abstract: A gas-cooled pressure tube nuclear reactor is described that uses a room temperature and pressure gas as a primary coolant and a liquid moderator as a secondary coolant. The primary coolant, which may be maintained in a supercritical state, is circulated through fuel columns in a pool of the liquid moderator. The primary coolant removes the heat generated by fission from the nuclear fuel. The heated primary coolant is then passed to one or more turbines to generate power. The primary coolant is then repressurized by one or more compressors using some of the generated power from the turbines. Several modified Brayton cycle configurations are described that are uniquely suited to the operating conditions of the gas-cooled pressure tube reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Michael E. Cohen, Brian C. Johnson, Robert C. Petroski, Nicholas W. Touran, Bao H. Truong
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Patent number: 10119592Abstract: A vehicle drivetrain includes a magnetic bearing. The vehicle drivetrain includes a motor configured to provide a rotational driving force. The rotational driving force is received by a shaft, and the magnetic bearing is configured to support the shaft. The shaft is configured to drive a wheel of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Geoffrey F. Deane, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
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Patent number: 10112710Abstract: A motor vehicle system includes a motor vehicle including an aircraft landing portion, and an actively propelled unmanned aircraft configured to be supported on the aircraft landing portion. The vehicle and aircraft are configured such that the vehicle can provide at least one of fuel and electrical energy to the aircraft while the aircraft is supported on the aircraft landing portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Thomas Allan Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 10116804Abstract: A hands-free intercom may include a user-tracking sensor, a directional microphone, a directional sound emitter, a display device, and/or a communication interface. The user-tracking sensor may determine a location of a user so the directional microphone can measure vocal emissions by the user and the directional sound emitter can deliver audio to the user. The hands-free intercom may provide privacy to the user. The hands-free intercom may prevent an eavesdropper from hearing the user's vocal emissions, for example, by canceling the vocal emissions at the eavesdropper's ear. The directional sound emitter may deliver out-of-phase sound to cancel the vocal emissions. The hands-free intercom may also, or instead, cancel ambient noise at the user's ear. The hands-free intercom may measure or predict a filtration of the sound to be canceled and compensate for the filtration when canceling the sound.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Eric D. Rudder, Desney S. Tan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Andrew Wilson, Jeannette M. Wing, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
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Patent number: 10115142Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user preference information of a user that indicates one or more customized food preferences of the user including at least one or more preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients for use in generating one or more customized food items; identifying one or more capable automated customized food generation machines that have one or more ingredients in one or more sufficient quantities to be able to currently generate at least one customized food item in accordance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user; and presenting, in response at least in part to the identification, one or more indicators that direct the user to at least one automated customized food generation machine. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Pablos Holman, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
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Publication number: 20180308363Abstract: A vehicle may include a monitoring unit configured to determine a characteristic of an automatic-driving software program operating on the vehicle. The characteristic may include an identification of the automatic-driving software program, adjustable parameters, internal variables/dynamic decisions of the automatic-driving software program, performance of one or more sensors, whether an automatic collision avoidance maneuver has been triggered, and/or the like. The characteristic may be transmitted to one or more nearby vehicles to improve the ability of manual operators and/or automatic-driving software of the nearby vehicles to predict the maneuvers by the vehicle and/or behavior of the vehicle. Record of the transmission of the characteristic and/or of any acknowledgements of receipt of the characteristic by the nearby vehicles may be logged to a persistent storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: William David Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Robert C. Petroski, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
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Patent number: 10086251Abstract: A penalty allocation system includes a processing circuit configured to receive first data from a first player-worn sensor regarding a first player involved in an impact, receive second data from a second player-worn sensor regarding a second player involved in the impact, identify one of the first player and the second player as an at-fault player in connection with the impact based on the first data and the second data, and determine a penalty for the at-fault player based on the first data and the second data.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Paul G. Allen, Philip V. Bayly, David L. Brody, Alistair K. Chan, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Hon Wah Chin, Richard G. Ellenbogen, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, Raul Radovitzky, Anthony V. Smith, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
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Publication number: 20180254109Abstract: A system is provided that determines optimal movements of fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor, such as a traveling wave reactor (TWR). Such a system may be capable of modeling core operations and fuel moves in parallel to determine optimal fuel cycle moves responsive to one or more constraints, including, but not limited to core criticality and location of a deflagration wave within an operating reactor core. According to one embodiment, the optimal solution may be determined using a branch search to simulate possible fuel moves.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Robert C. Petroski, Nicholas W. Touran, Charles Whitmer
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Patent number: 10053280Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for preparing one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the user information including one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of one or more customized packagings for holding the one or more customized food items of the one or more users, the one or more customized packagings having one or more features that are customized based, at least in part, on the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Pablos Holman, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
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Patent number: 10035643Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for preparing one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the user information including one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of one or more customized packagings for holding the one or more customized food items of the one or more users, the one or more customized packagings having one or more features that are customized based, at least in part, on the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Pablos Holman, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Max R. Levchin, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood