Patents by Inventor Robert Lee Read

Robert Lee Read 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).

  • Publication number: 20090012804
    Abstract: A computer-networked method for persons to express desires and intentions relating to a formal proposal or offer is described. Each interaction is modeled as a transition between a finite set of states. The allowed states and transitions are defined by a finite-state automaton called a way of doing business, or waydobâ„¢, decorated with various functions. The history of the interaction is recorded as an appendable but immutable list of transitions against the finite-state machine. Transitions are regulated by computable functions attached to the finite-state machine, thus permitting privileges, privacy, and other rules of the way of doing business to be enforced. By collecting parameters at transition points, commercial as well as non-commercial human interactions can be modeled and facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Lee Read
  • Patent number: 6966661
    Abstract: It is taught that two reflective parabolic or paraboloidal surfaces of different scales whose axes point in opposite directions but which share a common focal point can be used as an image forming telescope. If only a portion of a parabolic or paraboloidal sliced along the optical axis is used as the surfaces, then they can be configured so that light rays strike the surfaces at such angles as to be totally internally reflected. Thus a solid prism can be constructed that serves as telescopic or non-imaging collector of light with no loss of energy due to internal reflection or refraction. Since this system does not depend on an optically precise entry surface, it may be useful in fiber optic and solar power applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Robert Lee Read
  • Patent number: 6035072
    Abstract: Defects such as dirt, dust, scratches, blemishes, pits, or defective elements or pixels in a CCD, scanner, photocopier, or image acquiring device are dynamically detected by processing a plurality of images via a computer. A pristine object of calibration is not required. Stationary components of the video images are found and detected so as to produce a low false alarm probability. Text segmentation and measurement of total deviation based on variability related to high-frequency components of the video image are employed to prevent applying the process or method to printed text or graphics. Additional techniques optionally employed are median filtering, sample area detection, and dynamic adjustment of scores. In special cases, only moderately blank documents are used. The dynamic defect detection allows defect compensation, defect correction, and alerting the operator of defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Lee Read