Patents by Inventor Robert P. Higgins

Robert P. Higgins 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: 11957577
    Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 4C Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Gregory G. Brucker, Joseph P. Higgins, Saravana B. Kumar, Jason S. Diedering, Karl A. Kabarowski, Robert J. Thatcher, James E. Flaherty, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Publication number: 20210392317
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a first wing coupled to the fuselage and including a first wingtip that is movable relative to the fuselage during flight, and a second wing coupled to the fuselage, opposite the first wing, and including a second wingtip that is movable relative to the fuselage and relative to the first wingtip during flight. The aircraft also includes a first camera mounted to the first wingtip of the first wing and a second camera mounted to the second wingtip of the second wing. The aircraft further includes a processing unit configured to determine a real-time distance between the first camera and the second camera as the first camera and the second camera move relative to each other and relative to the fuselage during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andy Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Gary A. Ray, Tuan A. Nguyen, Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 10649087
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a group of passive sensor systems, an active sensor system, and a processor unit. The group of passive sensor systems is configured to generate first sensor information from light in an environment around the group of passive sensor systems. The active sensor system is configured to send signals, receive responses from the signals, and generate second sensor information from the responses. The processor unit is configured to control the active sensor system to send the signals in a direction toward an object using the first sensor information and generate information about the object using the second sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Martin Saint Clair, William D. Sherman, Mitchell D. Voth, Ronald N. Murata, Bentley Edwin Northon, James Ridgeway Gillis, Robert P. Higgins, David Christien Soreide, Robert R. Keever, Ordie Dean Butterfield
  • Publication number: 20180091797
    Abstract: A method is provided of compensating for variations in distance and orientation between first and second wing-mounted cameras of an aircraft due to flexing of at least one aircraft wing. The method comprises determining a first distance and orientation between the first wing-mounted camera and the second wing-mounted camera during a neutral wing condition of the aircraft. The method further comprises determining a second distance and orientation between the first wing-mounted camera and the second wing-mounted camera during a flexed wing condition of the aircraft. The method also comprises processing the difference between the first and second distances and orientations to provide a real-time varying distance and orientation for use in providing a compensated distance between the first and second wing-mounted cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Andy Armatorio, Richard J. Loftis, Gary A. Ray, Tuan A. Nguyen, Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9583012
    Abstract: A system for detection and avoidance may include an image capture system configured to be connected to a vehicle, the image capture system being configured to obtain and transmit images, and a detection system configured to communicate with the vehicle and/or an operator of the vehicle, the detection system being configured to receive the images, process the images to identify an object, determine whether the object will potentially strike the vehicle, generate a strike avoidance report including information indicating that a potential strike will occur and an avoidance command to avoid the potential strike in response to a determination that the potential strike will occur, and send the strike avoidance report to a vehicle management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Loftis, Andrew Armatorio, Robert P. Higgins, Tuan Anh Chau Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9513606
    Abstract: Safety systems and methods for production environments are disclosed. Safety systems include at least one sensing device configured to detect presence of an unauthorized human and/or an authorized human at least partially within a defined safety zone, and a controller configured to automatically alter at least one aspect of the production environment responsive to the presence of the unauthorized human and/or the authorized human. Safety methods include detecting presence of an unauthorized human and/or an authorized human at least partially within a defined safety zone, and automatically altering at least one aspect of the production environment responsive to the detecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ty A. Larsen, Robert R. Keever, Harold E. Hager, Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9427867
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding a mobile platform within an environment may be provided. A number of first type of data streams and a number of second type of data streams may be generated using a plurality of data systems. A probability distribution may be applied to each of the number of second type of data streams to form a number of modified data streams. The number of first type of data streams and the number of modified data streams may be fused to generate a pose estimate with a desired level of accuracy for the mobile platform with respect to an environment around the mobile platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter F. Trautman, Hui Li, Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9167972
    Abstract: A non-contact biometric sensing device is described. The device includes a processing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing device, a display communicatively coupled to the processing device, a laser doppler vibrometer sensor communicatively coupled to the processing device, and an infrared camera communicatively coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to utilize mechanical motion data received from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and thermal distributions data from the infrared camera to calculate biometric data, when signals originating from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and the infrared camera are reflected back towards the device from a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Martin Saint Clair, David C. Soreide, Robert P. Higgins, Gary A. Ray, Tyler M. Anderson, Donald Allen Spurgeon, Mitchell D. Voth, Paul F. Sjoholm
  • Publication number: 20150283700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding a mobile platform within an environment may be provided. A number of first type of data streams and a number of second type of data streams may be generated using a plurality of data systems. A probability distribution may be applied to each of the number of second type of data streams to form a number of modified data streams. The number of first type of data streams and the number of modified data streams may be fused to generate a pose estimate with a desired level of accuracy for the mobile platform with respect to an environment around the mobile platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter F. Trautman, Hui Li, Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9111361
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an image processing system is provided. A first image and a second image in a sequence of images are registered to a reference image in the sequence of images to form a first registered image and a second registered image, respectively. A double differenced image is formed using the reference image, the first registered image, and the second registered image. A number of moving target signatures in the double differenced image is identified. A moving target signature in the number of moving target signatures comprises a spot of a first type and at least one spot of a second type adjacent to the spot of the first type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9055195
    Abstract: A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Greg A. Bengeult, Jeffrey P. Harrang, William R. Richards, Michael G. Lynch, Michael De La Chapelle, Paulus J. Martens, Ronald S. Carson, Richard D. Williams, II, Daniel F. Miller, Geoffrey O. White, George Fitzsimmons, Russell Berkheimer, Robert P. Higgins, Arthur F. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20140150033
    Abstract: A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Greg A. Bengeult, Jeffrey P. Harrang, William R. Richards, Michael G. Lynch, Michael De La Chapelle, Paulus J. Martens, Ronald S. Carson, Richard D. Williams, II, Daniel F. Miller, Geoffrey O. White, George Fitzsimmons, Russell Berkheimer, Robert P. Higgins, Arthur F. Morrison
  • Patent number: 8666661
    Abstract: A system and method for video navigation are disclosed. Motion analysis can be performed upon camera images to determine movement of a vehicle, and consequently present position of the vehicle. Feature points can be identified upon a video image. Movement of the feature points between video frames is indicative of movement of the vehicle. Video navigation can be used, for example, in those instances wherein GPS navigation is unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 8646010
    Abstract: A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Greg A. Bengeult, Jeffrey P. Harrang, William R. Richards, Michael G. Lynch, Michael De La Chapelle, Paulus J. Martens, Ronald S. Carson, Richard D. Williams, II, Daniel F. Miller, Geoffrey O. White, George Fitzsimmons, Russell Berkheimer, Robert P. Higgins, Arthur F. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20130271590
    Abstract: A non-contact biometric sensing device is described. The device includes a processing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing device, a display communicatively coupled to the processing device, a laser doppler vibrometer sensor communicatively coupled to the processing device, and an infrared camera communicatively coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to utilize mechanical motion data received from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and thermal distributions data from the infrared camera to calculate biometric data, when signals originating from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and the infrared camera are reflected back towards the device from a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan Martin Saint Clair, David C. Soreide, Robert P. Higgins, Gary A. Ray, Tyler M. Anderson, Donald Allen Spurgeon, Mitchell D. Voth, Paul F. Sjoholm
  • Publication number: 20130201052
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a group of passive sensor systems, an active sensor system, and a processor unit. The group of passive sensor systems is configured to generate first sensor information from light in an environment around the group of passive sensor systems. The active sensor system is configured to send signals, receive responses from the signals, and generate second sensor information from the responses. The processor unit is configured to control the active sensor system to send the signals in a direction toward an object using the first sensor information and generate information about the object using the second sensor information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Martin Saint Clair, William D. Sherman, Mitchell D. Voth, Ronald N. Murata, Bentley Edwin Northon, James Ridgeway Gillis, Robert P. Higgins, David Christien Soreide, Robert R. Keever, Ordie Dean Butterfield
  • Patent number: 8483806
    Abstract: A non-contact biometric sensing device is described. The device includes a processing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing device, a display communicatively coupled to the processing device, a laser doppler vibrometer sensor communicatively coupled to the processing device, and an infrared camera communicatively coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to utilize mechanical motion data received from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and thermal distributions data from the infrared camera to calculate biometric data, when signals originating from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and the infrared camera are reflected back towards the device from a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Martin Saint Clair, David C. Soreide, Robert P. Higgins, Gary A. Ray, Tyler M. Anderson, Donald Allen Spurgeon, Mitchell D. Voth, Paul F. Sjoholm
  • Patent number: 8254362
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods, apparatus, and articles allowing two nodes to communicate in a slot-based direct sequencing spreading communication system. Both a preamble sequence and a payload data spreading PN sequence are generated from the Time of Day and a given user code. Generated sequences are synchronized between two communicating nodes to allow slot-based DSSS communication to take place. Generated sequences also change dynamically from slot to slot to provide waveform security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Xinyu Wang, Igor Elgorriaga, Marcus R. Gahler, Robert P. Higgins, Yefim Poberezhskiy, Paul R. Norris, Brian J. Hatley, Michael S. Foster
  • Patent number: 8194925
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for recognizing a gesture in which one or more relationships are determined between a plurality of body parts and the gesture is then determined based upon these relationships. Each relationship may be determined by determining an angle associated with at least one joint, determining one or more states of a body part based upon the angle associated with at least one joint, and determining a probability of a body part being in each respective state. The gesture may thereafter be determined based upon the one or more states and the probability associated with each state of the body part. Directions may be provided, such as to an unmanned vehicle, based upon the gesture to, for example, control its taxiing and parking operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 8111734
    Abstract: A device for fast transition from preamble synchronization of a received baseband signal to demodulation of the received baseband signal may include a baseband chip tracking loop to generate an offset tracking value to track any initial chip phase offset and Doppler-caused baseband chip frequency drift associated with the received baseband signal. The device may also include a numerical controlled oscillator to correct any Doppler-caused phase rotation associated with the received signal. The device may additionally include a preamble synchronization unit to detect a preamble of the received baseband signal, and to measure a chip phase offset and a baseband Doppler frequency shift associated with the received baseband signal. The chip phase offset may be used to set an initial chip phase offset value of the chip tracking loop so that the chip tracking loop starts with approximately a zero pull-in error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Xinyu Wang, Marcus Gahler, Robert P. Higgins, Paul R. Norris