Patents by Inventor Robert Steele

Robert Steele 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: 12269482
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an alertness level of an occupant of a vehicle includes a first sensor operable to detect an event exterior to the vehicle. A second imager is operable to capture an image of the occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller is configured to determine a target direction aligning with a region of the event. The controller is further configured to determine a viewing direction of the occupant based on the image. The controller is further configured to compare the target direction to the viewing direction. The controller is further configured to determine the alertness level of the driver based on the comparison of the target direction to the viewing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guy Raz, Robert Steel
  • Patent number: 12109885
    Abstract: A driver intoxication test system is provided for a vehicle including: a quick intoxication pre-test subsystem for quickly determining whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated; an intoxication validation test subsystem for determining whether the driver is intoxicated; and a controller is configured to determine whether the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated. When a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated has been detected, an intoxication validation test is conducted and it is determined whether the driver has passed the intoxication validation test. When a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated has not been detected, the controller does not instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Steel
  • Publication number: 20230365061
    Abstract: A mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a glass element that is at least partially reflective and a housing that is coupled to the glass element. A mounting member includes an internal portion located within the housing that defines a mounting member connector. The housing includes a housing connector operably coupled to the mounting member connector and configured to articulate the housing relative to the mounting member between different positions. A camera unit is connected to the internal portion of the mounting member such that it remains stationary as the housing is articulated relative to the mounting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Steel
  • Publication number: 20230294706
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an alertness level of an occupant of a vehicle includes a first sensor operable to detect an event exterior to the vehicle. A second imager is operable to capture an image of the occupant. A controller is in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller is configured to determine a target direction aligning with a region of the event. The controller is further configured to determine a viewing direction of the occupant based on the image. The controller is further configured to compare the target direction to the viewing direction. The controller is further configured to determine the alertness level of the driver based on the comparison of the target direction to the viewing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Raz, Robert Steel
  • Publication number: 20230288529
    Abstract: A sensing apparatus for a vehicle includes a window, a wireless sensing circuit, and a controller. The wireless sensing circuit includes a conductive coating coupled to the window. The conductive coating includes an antenna array that is configured to communicate a radio frequency at a phase angle. Further, a controller is in communication with the antenna array and configured to communicate a first signal to the antenna array to control the phase angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Raz, Robert Steel
  • Publication number: 20230286379
    Abstract: A driver intoxication test system is provided for a vehicle including: a quick intoxication pre-test subsystem for quickly determining whether there is reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated; an intoxication validation test subsystem for determining whether the driver is intoxicated; and a controller is configured to determine whether the quick intoxication pre-test subsystem has detected a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated. When a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated has been detected, an intoxication validation test is conducted and it is determined whether the driver has passed the intoxication validation test. When a reason to suspect the driver may be intoxicated has not been detected, the controller does not instruct the intoxication validation test subsystem to conduct an intoxication validation test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Steel
  • Publication number: 20230035856
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying the reliability of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data include receiving data produced by one or more sensors during a trip within a vehicle, the data including GNSS sensor data and non-GNSS sensor data. Feature data is generated based at least in part on the GNSS sensor data and the non-GNSS sensor data. A reliability of at least a portion of the GNSS sensor data is determined by processing the feature data with a classifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventor: Patrick Robert Steele
  • Patent number: 11134330
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention determine a speech estimate using a bone conduction sensor or accelerometer, without employing voice activity detection gating of speech estimation. Speech estimation is based either exclusively on the bone conduction signal, or is performed in combination with a microphone signal. The speech estimate is then used to condition an output signal of the microphone. There are multiple use cases for speech processing in audio devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: David Leigh Watts, Brenton Robert Steele, Thomas Ivan Harvey, Vitaliy Sapozhnykov
  • Patent number: 10490208
    Abstract: A signal processing device for configurable voice activity detection. A plurality of inputs receive respective microphone signals. A microphone signal router configurably routes the microphone signals. At least one voice activity detection module receives a pair of microphone signals from the router, and produces a respective output indicating whether speech or noise has been detected by the voice activity detection module in the respective pair of microphone signals. A voice activity decision module receives the output of the voice activity detection module(s) and determines whether voice activity exists in the microphone signals. A spatial noise reduction module receives microphone signals from the microphone signal router, and performs adaptive beamforming based in part upon the output of the voice activity decision module, and outputs a spatial noise reduced output. The device permits simple configurability to deliver spatial noise reduction for one of a wide variety of headset form factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenton Robert Steele, Hu Chen, Ben Hutchins
  • Patent number: 10418048
    Abstract: A device for noise estimation comprises a first microphone capturing a nominal speech signal, and a second microphone capturing a nominal noise signal. A generalized sidelobe canceller of the device applies spatial noise reduction, and comprises a blocking matrix filter to adaptively process the nominal speech signal to produce a speech cancellation signal, a node for subtracting the speech cancellation signal from the nominal noise signal to produce a noise reference signal, a noise cancellation filter to adaptively filter the noise reference signal to produce a noise cancellation signal; and a node for subtracting the noise cancellation signal from the nominal speech signal to produce a speech reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hutchins, Brenton Robert Steele
  • Patent number: 10397687
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention determine a speech estimate using a bone conduction sensor or accelerometer, without employing voice activity detection gating of speech estimation. Speech estimation is based either exclusively on the bone conduction signal, or is performed in combination with a microphone signal. The speech estimate is then used to condition an output signal of the microphone. There are multiple use cases for speech processing in audio devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: David Leigh Watts, Brenton Robert Steele, Thomas Ivan Harvey, Vitaliy Sapozhnykov
  • Publication number: 20160127380
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program for identifying a device on a network that participates in communication sessions, where the device may rotate its IP address between communication sessions. A plurality of unauthorized communication sessions that are carried out on different IP addresses are captured, stored, and analyzed to determine whether the same device was used during the communication sessions. The communication sessions may be analyzed to verify whether a predetermined file was downloaded, uploaded, or otherwise offered for copying, sharing or distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Steele
  • Patent number: 9271090
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method, and a device, for feedback cancellation. This invention also concerns a computer program product comprising computer program code means to make a computer execute a procedure for feedback cancellation. The method comprises providing an adaptive feedback cancellation filter which adapts under the control of a control module, and filtering at least one input of the control module to suppress correlated signals from the input prior to the control module operating upon the input. The device comprises an adaptive feedback cancellation filter, a control module and at least one filter. The control module controls adaptation of the adaptive feedback cancellation filter. The filter suppresses correlated signals from an input to the control module prior to the control module operating upon the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: WOLFSON DYNAMIC HEARING PTY LTD
    Inventor: Brenton Robert Steele
  • Patent number: 8814373
    Abstract: An interior rearview device support assembly having a support member including a connecting end and a pivot end. A rearview device housing defines an internal cavity and includes a socket. The pivot end of the support member is coupled with the socket and is pivotable relative thereto. A sensor device is disposed inside the rearview device housing and is coupled to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Steel, Mark R. Roth, Danny L. Minikey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8650237
    Abstract: Adaptive processing of an input signal is achieved by offline analysis, with inline processing comprising an adaptive filter. The method comprises passing the input signal through an adaptive time domain filter to produce an output signal. The input signal and/or output signal is used as an offline analysis signal. The analysis signal is transformed into a transform domain (eg frequency domain) to produce a transformed analysis signal. The transformed analysis signal is analyzed, for example by ADRO, to produce a plurality of desired gains each corresponding to a respective transform domain sub-band. A time domain filter characteristic is synthesized to at least approach the desired gains. The adaptive filter is updated with the synthesized filter characteristic. Minimum phase adaptive filter techniques are found to possess particular benefits in this scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Wolfson Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Bonar Dickson, Brenton Robert Steele
  • Patent number: 8573823
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a solid-state luminaire has a strip of high power LEDs, where each LED emits light into an optical coupler. Light from the optical coupler is then coupled into a light guide. Light coupled into the light guide is mixed and guided to an exit aperture of the light guide. An optical extractor proximate the exit aperture of the light guide redirects light outward, which is optionally redirected generally downward by a secondary reflector that extends outwardly along the length of the light guide. The secondary reflector may be configured to create a variety of light-emission patterns. The luminaire may be hung from a ceiling, in track lighting, used as a pendant or pedestal fixture, or in other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Wilson Dau, Robert Gardner, George Lerman, Louis Lerman, Chris Lowery, Brian D. Ogonowsky, George E. Smith, Ingo Speier, Robert Steele, Jacqueline Teng, Allan Brent York
  • Patent number: 8461602
    Abstract: A solid state light sheet and method of fabricating the sheet are disclosed. In one embodiment, bare LED chips have top and bottom electrodes, where the bottom electrode is a large reflective electrode. The bottom electrodes of an array of LEDs (e.g., 500 LEDs) are bonded to an array of electrodes formed on a flexible bottom substrate. Conductive traces are formed on the bottom substrate connected to the electrodes. A transparent top substrate having conductors is then laminated over the bottom substrate. Various ways to connect the LEDs in series are described along with many embodiments. The light sheets may be formed to emit light from opposite surfaces of the light sheet, enabling it to be used in a hanging fixture to illuminate the ceiling as well as the floor. The light sheet provides a practical substitute for a standard 2×4 foot fluorescent ceiling fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Louis Lerman, Allan Brent York, Michael David Henry, Robert Steele, Brian D. Ogonowsky
  • Patent number: 8410726
    Abstract: A solid state lamp, such as one that can replace an incandescent light bulb, has a base portion having an electrical connector for connection to a source of power, such as an Edison-type connector for connection to the mains voltage. An AC/DC converter in the base converts the mains voltage to a suitable light emitting diode (LED) drive voltage. A plurality of receptacles on the base connects to electrodes of plug-in modules. Each plug-in module supports a plurality of low power LEDs connected in series. The strings of LEDs on different modules are connected in parallel when connected to the receptacles. The modules and base are configured to allow a user to operate the lamp with different combinations of modules to generate a desired light output from the lamp. For example, the user can recreate the lumens equivalent of a 20 W, 40 W, or 60 W bulb by using one, two, or three modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
    Inventors: Wilson Dau, Louis Lerman, Allan Brent York, Robert Steele, Jacqueline Teng, George Lerman
  • Patent number: 8385864
    Abstract: Adaptively processing an input signal, such as an input signal of a hearing aid. The input signal is passed through an adaptive time domain filter to produce an output signal. At least one of the input signal and the output signal is used as an analysis signal. The analysis signal is transformed into a transform domain to produce a transformed analysis signal, which is analyzed to produce a desired gain for each respective transform domain sub-band. A minimum phase time domain filter characteristic is synthesized which approaches the desired gains. The adaptive filter is updated with the synthesized filter characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Wolfson Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Bonar Dickson, Brenton Robert Steele
  • Publication number: 20130039050
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a solid-state luminaire has a strip of high power LEDs, where each LED emits light into an optical coupler. Light from the optical coupler is then coupled into a light guide. Light coupled into the light guide is mixed and guided to an exit aperture of the light guide. An optical extractor proximate the exit aperture of the light guide redirects light outward, which is optionally redirected generally downward by a secondary reflector that extends outwardly along the length of the light guide. The secondary reflector may be configured to create a variety of light-emission patterns. The luminaire may be hung from a ceiling, in track lighting, used as a pendant or pedestal fixture, or in other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: QUARKSTAR, LLC
    Inventors: Wilson Dau, Robert Gardner, George Lerman, Louis Lerman, Chris Lowery, Brian D. Ogonowsky, George E. Smith, Ingo Speier, Robert Steele, Jacqueline Teng, Allan Brent York