Patents by Inventor Robert C. Walker
Robert C. 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).
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Patent number: 10669166Abstract: A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: LARQ INC.Inventors: Yitao Liao, Robert C. Walker, Doug Collins, Wei Zhang
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Patent number: 10570028Abstract: A treatment device includes a base having a battery, a UV-LED for providing UV-C light during a UV sterilization process, LEDs for providing visible light during the UV sterilization process, and a controller for initiating the UV sterilization process, a translucent ring on the base for receiving the visible light from the LEDs and outputting it to the user, a first coupling structure on the base, a UV transmissive material above the UV-LED module, and a water storage removably coupled to the base having a sidewall structure for confining water, a second coupling structure below the sidewall structure for coupling with the first coupling structure to thereby create a water-tight seal between the water storage and the base, and a translucent material disposed upon the top opening of the water storage for receiving the visible light from the LEDs and outputting it to the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: LARQ, INC.Inventors: Yitao Liao, Robert C. Walker, Doug Collins
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Patent number: 10363327Abstract: A variety of applications for UV LEDs that are integrated into a system are described, where the UV light is used for disinfection of air or surfaces, or used to detect the scattering light by particles, or used for skin treatment. In one embodiment, a ceiling luminaire includes a sensor for detecting the presence of people in the room. The luminaire contains a first set of LEDs for generating white light, for illumination, and a second set of LEDs for generating UV light for disinfecting the room. When the sensor detects that no people are in the room, the system automatically controls the UV LEDs to turn on to disinfect the room. The white light LEDs may be independently controlled with a dimmer.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: RayVio CorporationInventors: Yitao Liao, Douglas A. Collins, Theodore J. de Jony, Robert C. Walker, Elaine Taylor
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Publication number: 20190202715Abstract: A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Yitao LIAO, Robert C. WALKER, Doug COLLINS, Wei ZHANG
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Patent number: 10265430Abstract: A method for a hand-held device comprising illuminating, with a first UV LED associated with the hand-held device, a surface of an object with UV light, acquiring with a visible-light image sensor on the hand-held device, a first image of the surface of the object while the surface of the object is illuminated by the first UV LED, performing with the processor in the hand-held device, a function upon the first image to determine a type of contaminant disposed upon the surface of the object, determining with the processor in the hand-held device, sanitation techniques to perform in response to the type of contaminant that is determined, and displaying with a touch-screen display on the hand-held device, the sanitation techniques to the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Rayvio CorporationInventors: Yitao Liao, Robert C. Walker, Doug Collins, Sheung Li
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Publication number: 20190091358Abstract: A variety of applications for UV LEDs that are integrated into a system are described, where the UV light is used for disinfection of air or surfaces, or used to detect the scattering light by particles, or used for skin treatment. In one embodiment, a ceiling luminaire includes a sensor for detecting the presence of people in the room. The luminaire contains a first set of LEDs for generating white light, for illumination, and a second set of LEDs for generating UV light for disinfecting the room. When the sensor detects that no people are in the room, the system automatically controls the UV LEDs to turn on to disinfect the room. The white light LEDs may be independently controlled with a dimmer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Yitao Liao, Douglas A. Collins, Theodore J. de Jony, Robert C. Walker, Elaine Taylor
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Patent number: 10227241Abstract: A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Rayvio CorporationInventors: Yitao Liao, Robert C. Walker, Doug Collins, Wei Zhang
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Patent number: 10224443Abstract: An LED device capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation ranging from about 200 nm to 365 nm, the device. The device includes a substrate member, the substrate member being selected from sapphire, silicon, quartz, gallium nitride, gallium aluminum nitride, or others. The device has an active region overlying the substrate region, the active region comprising a light emitting spatial region comprising a p-n junction and characterized by a current crowding feature of electrical current provided in the active region. The light emitting spatial region is characterized by about 1 to 10 microns. The device includes an optical structure spatially disposed separate and apart the light emitting spatial region and is configured to facilitate light extraction from the active region.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: RayVio CorporationInventors: Douglas A. Collins, Faisal Sudradjat, Robert C. Walker, Yitao Liao
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Patent number: 10166309Abstract: A variety of applications for UV LEDs that are integrated into a system are described, where the UV light is used for disinfection of air or surfaces, or used to detect the scattering light by particles, or used for skin treatment. In one embodiment, a ceiling luminaire includes a sensor for detecting the presence of people in the room. The luminaire contains a first set of LEDs for generating white light, for illumination, and a second set of LEDs for generating UV light for disinfecting the room. When the sensor detects that no people are in the room, the system automatically controls the UV LEDs to turn on to disinfect the room. The white light LEDs may be independently controlled with a dimmer.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: RayVio CorporationInventors: Yitao Liao, Douglas A. Collins, Theodore J. de Jony, Robert C. Walker, Elaine Taylor
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Publication number: 20180193505Abstract: A method for a hand-held device comprising illuminating, with a first UV LED associated with the hand-held device, a surface of an object with UV light, acquiring with a visible-light image sensor on the hand-held device, a first image of the surface of the object while the surface of the object is illuminated by the first UV LED, performing with the processor in the hand-held device, a function upon the first image to determine a type of contaminant disposed upon the surface of the object, determining with the processor in the hand-held device, sanitation techniques to perform in response to the type of contaminant that is determined, and displaying with a touch-screen display on the hand-held device, the sanitation techniques to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Yitao LIAO, Robert C. WALKER, Doug COLLINS, Sheung LI
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Publication number: 20170222075Abstract: An LED device capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation ranging from about 200 nm to 365 nm, the device. The device includes a substrate member, the substrate member being selected from sapphire, silicon, quartz, gallium nitride, gallium aluminum nitride, or others. The device has an active region overlying the substrate region, the active region comprising a light emitting spatial region comprising a p-n junction and characterized by a current crowding feature of electrical current provided in the active region. The light emitting spatial region is characterized by about 1 to 10 microns. The device includes an optical structure spatially disposed separate and apart the light emitting spatial region and is configured to facilitate light extraction from the active region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Douglas A. Collins, Faisal Sudradjat, Robert C. Walker, Yitao Liao
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Publication number: 20170190598Abstract: A treatment device includes a base having a battery, a UV-LED for providing UV-C light during a UV sterilization process, LEDs for providing visible light during the UV sterilization process, and a controller for initiating the UV sterilization process, a translucent ring on the base for receiving the visible light from the LEDs and outputting it to the user, a first coupling structure on the base, a UV transmissive material above the UV-LED module, and a water storage removably coupled to the base having a sidewall structure for confining water, a second coupling structure below the sidewall structure for coupling with the first coupling structure to thereby create a water-tight seal between the water storage and the base, and a translucent material disposed upon the top opening of the water storage for receiving the visible light from the LEDs and outputting it to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Yitao LIAO, Robert C. WALKER, Doug COLLINS
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Patent number: 9627579Abstract: An LED device capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation ranging from about 200 nm to 365 nm, the device. The device includes a substrate member, the substrate member being selected from sapphire, silicon, quartz, gallium nitride, gallium aluminum nitride, or others. The device has an active region overlying the substrate region, the active region comprising a light emitting spatial region comprising a p-n junction and characterized by a current crowding feature of electrical current provided in the active region. The light emitting spatial region is characterized by about 1 to 10 microns. The device includes an optical structure spatially disposed separate and apart the light emitting spatial region and is configured to facilitate light extraction from the active region.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: RayVio CorporationInventors: Douglas A. Collins, Faisal Sudradjat, Robert C. Walker, Yitao Liao
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Patent number: 9566357Abstract: A method for a smart-device comprising receiving a user selection of an icon on a display, initiating acquisition of a first image of a target surface using a camera in response to receiving the selection, directing power to an UV-LED disposed proximate to the camera, wherein the power is provided to the UV-LEDs for less than about 0.5 seconds, while power is provided to the UV-LED, initiating acquisition of a second image of a target surface using the camera, determining an image visually highlighting a contaminant on the target surface in response to the first and second images, determining an object type associated with the target surface, in response to the first image, determining geographic data, and storing the image, the object type, and the geographic data in a memory.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: RAYVIO CORPORATIONInventors: Yitao Liao, Robert C. Walker, Doug Collins
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Patent number: 9468695Abstract: A UV device includes a housing having a portion configured to be removably attached to a smart device, a UV light source disposed within the housing, wherein the UV light source is configured to provide output of UV light in response to an operating powered, a communication mechanism disposed within the housing, wherein the communication mechanism is configured to receive instructions from the smart device, a control mechanism disposed within the housing, wherein the control mechanism is coupled to the UV light source, and to the communication mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is configured to provide the operating power to the UV light source, in response to the instructions received from the smart device.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: RAYVIO CORPORATIONInventors: Yitao Liao, Robert C. Walker
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Publication number: 20160296650Abstract: A variety of applications for UV LEDs that are integrated into a system are described, where the UV light is used for disinfection of air or surfaces, or used to detect the scattering light by particles, or used for skin treatment. In one embodiment, a ceiling luminaire includes a sensor for detecting the presence of people in the room. The luminaire contains a first set of LEDs for generating white light, for illumination, and a second set of LEDs for generating UV light for disinfecting the room. When the sensor detects that no people are in the room, the system automatically controls the UV LEDs to turn on to disinfect the room. The white light LEDs may be independently controlled with a dimmer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Yitao Liao, Douglas A. Collins, Theodore J. de Jony, Robert C. Walker, Elaine Taylor
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Publication number: 20160289090Abstract: A storage container includes an input portion for receiving and filtering a source liquid to form an output liquid, a storage portion for storing the filtered liquid, and a base portion disposed below the storage portion including a UV light source for providing transmitted UV light to the filtered liquid, a UV light detector disposed an optical path length away from the UV light source for detecting received UV light through the filtered liquid in response to the transmitted UV light, a processor for determining an absorption or a transmission percentage in response to the transmitted UV light and the received UV light, for determining a safe condition, in response to the absorption or the transmission percentage respectively not exceeding or exceeding predetermined criteria, and one or more indicators for indicating that the liquid is safe for consumption to a user, in response to the safe condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Yitao LIAO, Robert C. WALKER, Doug COLLINS, Wei ZHANG
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Publication number: 20160271280Abstract: A variety of applications for UV LEDs that are integrated into a system are described, where the UV light is used for disinfection of air or surfaces, or used to detect the scattering light by particles, or used for skin treatment. In one embodiment, the UV light from the UV LEDs is generated internal to a housing and is optically coupled to a transparent or translucent surface touched by the human finger, such as a touch screen, a fingerprint scanner, backlit buttons or keys, a toggle of a light switch, a door knob, etc. The UV light is emitted through the touched surface to periodically disinfect the surface. A visual indication of the UV LEDs being energized is provided for safety, such as energizing visible light LEDs or a phosphor on a portion of the touched surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Yitao Liao, Douglas A. Collins, Theodore J. de Jony, Robert C. Walker, Elaine Taylor
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Publication number: 20160089457Abstract: A UV device includes a housing having a portion configured to be removably attached to a smart device, a UV light source disposed within the housing, wherein the UV light source is configured to provide output of UV light in response to an operating powered, a communication mechanism disposed within the housing, wherein the communication mechanism is configured to receive instructions from the smart device, a control mechanism disposed within the housing, wherein the control mechanism is coupled to the UV light source, and to the communication mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is configured to provide the operating power to the UV light source, in response to the instructions received from the smart device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Yitao LIAO, Robert C. WALKER
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Publication number: 20160089458Abstract: A method for a smart-device comprising receiving a user selection of an icon on a display, initiating acquisition of a first image of a target surface using a camera in response to receiving the selection, directing power to an UV-LED disposed proximate to the camera, wherein the power is provided to the UV-LEDs for less than about 0.5 seconds, while power is provided to the UV-LED, initiating acquisition of a second image of a target surface using the camera, determining an image visually highlighting a contaminant on the target surface in response to the first and second images, determining an object type associated with the target surface, in response to the first image, determining geographic data, and storing the image, the object type, and the geographic data in a memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Yitao LIAO, Robert C. WALKER, Doug COLLINS