Patents by Inventor Robert D. Ferris

Robert D. Ferris 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: 8950102
    Abstract: A scope correction apparatus comprises at least one lens and is positioned on a weapon in front of a reticled scope. Such scope correction apparatus receives light from a scene that is located a relatively short distance from the scope such that, without the presence of the scope correction apparatus, the focal point of the light within the scope would not be overlaid with the scope reticle. The scope correction apparatus optically alters the light such that its focal point is overlaid with the scope reticle thereby correcting for optical aberrations caused by the short distance between the scene and the scope. Accordingly, the user is able to view through the scope clear images of both the scene and the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
    Inventors: Patrick J. Reardon, Christopher N Underwood, Theodore E. Rogers, Robert D. Ferris
  • Patent number: 8267691
    Abstract: A firearm training simulation system for simulating the impact of one or more projectiles impacting a user includes an electrical impulse element configured for physical contact with the user. A controller is in communication with the electrical impulse element. The controller enables receipt of a signal for activating the electrical impulse element to deliver one or more electrical pulses to the user. Each electrical pulse simulates an impact of a projectile on the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Vitra Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ferris, Roger D. Malin
  • Patent number: 8016594
    Abstract: A threat fire simulation system (40) for simulating a projectile impacting a user (26) includes an electrical impulse element (44) configured for physical contact with the user (26). A controller (42) is in communication with the electrical impulse element (44). The controller (42) enables receipt of a signal (54) for activating electrical impulse element (44) to deliver a non-disabling electrical pulse (46) to the user (26). The electrical pulse (46) simulates an impact of the projectile on the user (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Virtra Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ferris, Roger D. Malin
  • Publication number: 20100227299
    Abstract: A threat fire simulation system (40) for simulating a projectile impacting a user (26) includes an electrical impulse element (44) configured for physical contact with the user (26). A controller (42) is in communication with the electrical impulse element (44). The controller (42) enables receipt of a signal (54) for activating electrical impulse element (44) to deliver a non-disabling electrical pulse (46) to the user (26). The electrical pulse (46) simulates an impact of the projectile on the user (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: VIRTRA SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ferris, Roger D. Malin
  • Patent number: 6374208
    Abstract: In an arcade system (20), an interface circuit (38) is configured for communication with a PC (40) and one or more peripheral devices (59). The interface circuit (38) adapts a PC-based application (64), installed on and executable from the PC (40), to an automated format in order to include arcade-style features, such as video and audio cues, fee prompts, timing cues, and so forth. The interface circuit (38) includes a processor (66) in communication with a plurality of inputs and outputs on the interface circuit (38). A memory (68) is coupled to the processor (66) and includes a user-configurable control program (74) executable on the processor (66). The user-configurable control program (74) selectively translates the data received from the peripheral devices (59) to a data format that is recognized by the PC-based application (64) and selectively enables the transfer of the data from the peripheral devices (59) to the PC (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventors: Robert D. Ferris, Roger D. Malin