Patents by Inventor Robert Nicholas

Robert Nicholas 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: 20230065979
    Abstract: An exercise machine has a lock mode and an unlock mode associated with a screen lock function. A computing device coupled to the exercise machine includes a display, memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The computing device is configured to detect a user interaction with the computing device or the exercise machine while the exercise machine is in the lock mode, render a screen lock interface on the display in response to the user interaction, receive an input code from the screen lock interface, determine that the input code matches a goal code, and adjust the exercise machine from the lock mode to the unlock mode in response to determining that the input code matches the goal code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Nautilus, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Rodden, Cyrus Evanado, Steve Black, James Taylor, Robert Nicholas Haselmann
  • Publication number: 20230069077
    Abstract: Aggregating user access privileges across various third-party data sources and intelligently managing query request quotas delegated by the data sources to users having access privileges. Query requests are received from users and in response determining that the user (i) has been granted access privileges to an identified data source responsive to the query and (ii) has available query requests from their specific allocated amount of query request quota, the query request is authorized for submission to the data source that is responsive to the query. Intelligent management of query request quotas includes determining query request quota allotments for each user including adjusting query request quotas when users have been identified as requiring an increase or decreasing in quota allotment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Phillip Paul Scott, II, Jonathan Currie, Robert Nicholas D'Aveta, Tracey King, Daniel Serrano Munoz, Alan Shields, Joshua Albert Styrcula
  • Patent number: 11572069
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling gear selection in a transmission of a vehicle in response to a directional shift requested by an operator and to a control system for controlling gear selection to manage directional shifts in vehicles, from a first direct to a second direction (e.g. forward to reverse). The method compares the current transmission output speed with a predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed. If the current transmission output speed is less than or equal to the predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed, the transmission is caused to execute a direction shift from the initial first direction gear to the same second direction gear, or a next highest second direction gear if there is no second direction gear which corresponds to the initial first direction gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Abhishek Awana, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Mariappan Paramasivan
  • Patent number: 11566703
    Abstract: A method of controlling gear selection in a vehicle transmission comprises detecting a change in a direction control signal (DCS) from a neutral signal state. If the current TOS is less than or equal to a predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of a plurality of first direction gears if the DCS was changed to a first direction signal state or one of a plurality of second direction gears if the DCS was changed to a second direction signal state. If the current TOS is greater than the predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of the plurality of first direction gears if a machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the first direction or one of the plurality of second direction gears if the machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Shanmugahari Murugesan
  • Patent number: 11561292
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can return unreliable pixels, e.g., in the case of over- or under-exposure. In some examples, parameters associated with power of a time-of-flight sensor can be altered based on a number of unreliable pixels in measured data and/or based on intensity values of the measured data. For example, unreliable pixels can be determined using phase frame information captured at a receiver of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Mehran Ferdowsi, Denis Nikitin
  • Publication number: 20230009466
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose a method for determining a payload platform configuration. The method involves receiving platform specifications, receiving payload specifications for a first payload and a second payload, and receiving operational constraints for a vehicle to which the platform and the second payload will be attached, the operational constraints being based on payload specifications for the first payload. The method involves using finite element analysis and/or dynamic load analysis to generate predictions about operational performance of the vehicle and corresponding properties of the platform, the predictions being based on payload specifications for the second payload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
    Inventors: Annaliese Cunniffe, Robert Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11504723
    Abstract: A spray head adapted for connection to a supply of fluid. The head includes a body to receive the supply of fluid and a number of conical mixing volumes, in fluid connection with the body and supply of fluid, each conical mixing volume having an outlet. Each conical mixing volume includes at least one first inlet for a flow of fluid into the conical mixing volume at an angle to a conical axis thereof, and at least one second inlet for a flow of fluid into the conical mixing volume substantially parallel to the conical axis. There is a valve disposed upstream of the conical mixing volumes, the valve adapted to divide and vary the supply of fluid flow between the at least one first inlet and the at least one second inlet, which in turn varies the output of the fluid from the outlet of the conical mixing volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Methven Limited
    Inventors: Andrew John Grigor, Chad Robert Bauer, Stephen Mclay McCutcheon, Nicholas Michael Lawrence Ashby, Robert Nicholas Edward Bolus, Brett Band
  • Patent number: 11500067
    Abstract: Various lens designs for use in Time of Flight (ToF) sensor systems are discussed. Improvements to a ToF sensor system may be realized by, for example, incorporating a lens having particular features, such as a relatively short track length, fast lens speed (e.g., low f-number), low telecentricity, relatively flat field illumination, and fairly low cost. In some examples, such a lens of a ToF sensor system may be a lens assembly having a fixed focal length and that avoids use of lenses having aspheric surfaces so as to achieve relatively low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan McMichael, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11483501
    Abstract: A blemish detection and characterization system and techniques for an optical imaging device includes determining a ratio of the light intensity of the image lost to the blemish relative to an expected light intensity of the image without the blemish. The system and technique may include receiving an image, transforming an image into a processed image with transformations and filters, as well as determining a relative magnitude of an intensity of a portion of the processed image relative to another area of the image. The system and technique may include taking an action based on the relative magnitude including rejecting a sensor, reworking the sensor, cleaning the sensor, or providing information about the blemish to a system to use in weighing data collected from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Moor, Nathan Duarte
  • Patent number: 11378523
    Abstract: An imaging device blemish detection test enclosure and techniques for an optical imaging device includes a mounting structure for mounting an optical imaging device, a first body with a concave surface, and a second body holding the mounting structure relative to the first body. The mounting structure and the second body may orient an optical axis of a lens of the optical imaging device towards the concave surface and locate the lens relative to the concave surface where the interface between the first and second bodies is outside of a lens field of view of the lens. The system may include a light source disposed in the second body and directed towards the concave surface of the of the first body providing an evenly illuminating the concave surface. The concave surface may include a surface of a spherical sector greater than a hemisphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Moor, Nathan Duarte
  • Publication number: 20220180539
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include returns associated with highly reflective objects that cause glare. In some examples, a depth of a sensed surface is determined from the sensor data and additional pixels at the same depth are identified. The subset of pixels at the depth are filtered by comparing a measured intensity value to a threshold intensity value for the depth. Other threshold intensity values can be applied to subsets of pixels at different depths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20220180538
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. The sensor may generate first image data at a first configuration and second image data at a second configuration. A disambiguated depth of a surface may be determined from the first image data and the second image data. If the disambiguated depth is greater than a nominal maximum depth of the sensor in the first configuration, an intensity of the surface may be determined from the first image data. If the intensity meets or exceeds a threshold intensity, the surface may be determined to be beyond the nominal maximum depth. If the intensity is less than the threshold intensity, an actual depth of the surface may be determined form the second image data as a distance less than the nominal maximum depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11194027
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include noise. In some examples, the sensor data is filtered by comparing a measured intensity value to a threshold intensity value. The threshold intensity value can be determined on a per-pixel basis using depth information and/or intensity information for a corresponding image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Mehran Ferdowsi
  • Publication number: 20210316731
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling gear selection in a transmission of a vehicle in response to a directional shift requested by an operator and to a control system for controlling gear selection to manage directional shifts in vehicles, from a first direct to a second direction (e.g. forward to reverse). The method compares the current transmission output speed with a predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed. If the current transmission output speed is less than or equal to the predetermined direction shift threshold transmission output speed, the transmission is caused to execute a direction shift from the initial first direction gear to the same second direction gear, or a next highest second direction gear if there is no second direction gear which corresponds to the initial first direction gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas HARPER, Abhishek AWANA, Christopher L. WYNKOOP, Mariappan PARAMASIVAN
  • Publication number: 20210262565
    Abstract: A method of controlling gear selection in a vehicle transmission comprises detecting a change in a direction control signal (DCS) from a neutral signal state. If the current TOS is less than or equal to a predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of a plurality of first direction gears if the DCS was changed to a first direction signal state or one of a plurality of second direction gears if the DCS was changed to a second direction signal state. If the current TOS is greater than the predetermined neutral shift threshold TOS, the transmission selects one of the plurality of first direction gears if a machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the first direction or one of the plurality of second direction gears if the machine motion direction parameter indicates that the vehicle is moving in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nicholas Harper, Christopher L. Wynkoop, Shanmugahari Murugesan
  • Publication number: 20210256864
    Abstract: A virtual-immersion computer that provides webpages to facilitate virtual immersion. The system uses a media-streamer computer processor for broadcasting media comprising a simulation-video stream, an audio stream, a radio-transmission-stream. The media is structured within a web frame of webpages by the processor and an audio frame, a picture frame, and/or a video with audio frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Across the Street Productions Inc.
    Inventors: John Nicholas Brunacini, Robert Nicholas Brunacini, Alan Vincent Brunacini
  • Patent number: D931265
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean
  • Patent number: D931842
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean
  • Patent number: D964333
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean
  • Patent number: D964334
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Bould, Jeremy Paul Wolf, Jamie Starr Perin, Robert Nicholas Dean