Patents by Inventor Robert Steinkraus

Robert Steinkraus 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: 10931367
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method of transmitting state information using free-space optical communication. The method includes using one or more processors of a first communication device to collect state information of the first communication device. A supervisor signal that carries the state information is transmitted from the first communication device along with a beacon beam in a first solid angle. The supervisor signal is a frequency different from the one or more frequencies of the beacon beam. When a communication link is established between the first communication device and a second communication device, a plurality of data packets is transmitted from the first communication device to the second communication device in a second solid angle smaller than the first solid angle. A subset of the plurality of data packets that do not carry client data carries the state information of the first communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Ulander, Howard Tran, Robert Steinkraus
  • Publication number: 20200162155
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method of transmitting state information using free-space optical communication. The method includes using one or more processors of a first communication device to collect state information of the first communication device. A supervisor signal that carries the state information is transmitted from the first communication device along with a beacon beam in a first solid angle. The supervisor signal is a frequency different from the one or more frequencies of the beacon beam. When a communication link is established between the first communication device and a second communication device, a plurality of data packets is transmitted from the first communication device to the second communication device in a second solid angle smaller than the first solid angle. A subset of the plurality of data packets that do not carry client data carries the state information of the first communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Klaus Ulander, Howard Tran, Robert Steinkraus
  • Patent number: 10581519
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method of transmitting state information using free-space optical communication. The method includes using one or more processors of a first communication device to collect state information of the first communication device. A supervisor signal that carries the state information is transmitted from the first communication device along with a beacon beam in a first solid angle. The supervisor signal is a frequency different from the one or more frequencies of the beacon beam. When a communication link is established between the first communication device and a second communication device, a plurality of data packets is transmitted from the first communication device to the second communication device in a second solid angle smaller than the first solid angle. A subset of the plurality of data packets that do not carry client data carries the state information of the first communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Ulander, Howard Tran, Robert Steinkraus
  • Publication number: 20190326984
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method of transmitting state information using free-space optical communication. The method includes using one or more processors of a first communication device to collect state information of the first communication device. A supervisor signal that carries the state information is transmitted from the first communication device along with a beacon beam in a first solid angle. The supervisor signal is a frequency different from the one or more frequencies of the beacon beam. When a communication link is established between the first communication device and a second communication device, a plurality of data packets is transmitted from the first communication device to the second communication device in a second solid angle smaller than the first solid angle. A subset of the plurality of data packets that do not carry client data carries the state information of the first communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Klaus Ulander, Howard Tran, Robert Steinkraus
  • Patent number: 10277319
    Abstract: The method includes receiving axis signals from a multi-axis position sensing detector, generating a reference signal by summing the axis signals, determining a mirror position of a mirror directing the optical beam based on the beam position error of each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, and actuating the mirror to move to the mirror position. Each axis signal is indicative of a beam position of an optical beam incident on the multi-axis position sensing detector, each axis signal corresponding to an axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector. For each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, the method includes converting a phase of an axis to have a 90 degree phase difference from a signal of the axis, generating an axis-phasor signal by summing the axis signals, and comparing the axis-phasor signal and the reference signal to determine a phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steinkraus, Klaus Ulander
  • Patent number: 10225006
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method of transmitting state information using free-space optical communication. The method includes using one or more processors of a first communication device to collect state information of the first communication device. A supervisor signal that carries the state information is transmitted from the first communication device along with a beacon beam in a first solid angle. The supervisor signal is a frequency different from the one or more frequencies of the beacon beam. When a communication link is established between the first communication device and a second communication device, a plurality of data packets is transmitted from the first communication device to the second communication device in a second solid angle smaller than the first solid angle. A subset of the plurality of data packets that do not carry client data carries the state information of the first communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Ulander, Howard Tran, Robert Steinkraus
  • Publication number: 20180175934
    Abstract: The method includes receiving axis signals from a multi-axis position sensing detector, generating a reference signal by summing the axis signals, determining a mirror position of a mirror directing the optical beam based on the beam position error of each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, and actuating the mirror to move to the mirror position. Each axis signal is indicative of a beam position of an optical beam incident on the multi-axis position sensing detector, each axis signal corresponding to an axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector. For each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, the method includes converting a phase of an axis to have a 90 degree phase difference from a signal of the axis, generating an axis-phasor signal by summing the axis signals, and comparing the axis-phasor signal and the reference signal to determine a phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steinkraus, Klaus Ulander
  • Patent number: 9917645
    Abstract: The method includes receiving axis signals from a multi-axis position sensing detector, generating a reference signal by summing the axis signals, determining a mirror position of a mirror directing the optical beam based on the beam position error of each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, and actuating the mirror to move to the mirror position. Each axis signal is indicative of a beam position of an optical beam incident on the multi-axis position sensing detector, each axis signal corresponding to an axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector. For each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, the method includes converting a phase of an axis to have a 90 degree phase difference from a signal of the axis, generating an axis-phasor signal by summing the axis signals, and comparing the axis-phasor signal and the reference signal to determine a phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steinkraus, Klaus Ulander
  • Publication number: 20170346563
    Abstract: The method includes receiving axis signals from a multi-axis position sensing detector, generating a reference signal by summing the axis signals, determining a mirror position of a mirror directing the optical beam based on the beam position error of each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, and actuating the mirror to move to the mirror position. Each axis signal is indicative of a beam position of an optical beam incident on the multi-axis position sensing detector, each axis signal corresponding to an axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector. For each axis of the multi-axis position sensing detector, the method includes converting a phase of an axis to have a 90 degree phase difference from a signal of the axis, generating an axis-phasor signal by summing the axis signals, and comparing the axis-phasor signal and the reference signal to determine a phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Steinkraus, Klaus Ulander
  • Publication number: 20120144642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for film thickness measurements by inducing and detecting acoustic resonance in a sample is disclosed. Acoustic resonance is induced by generating acoustic waves using heterodyned laser beams to frequency-tune a periodic waveform; the detection is done by monitoring changes in a continuous wave, constant intensity laser probe beam. The laser beams and optical system are fiber-optic based.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Steinkraus, Abner F. Bello
  • Publication number: 20060186569
    Abstract: A multi-composite material comprised of core filler particles encapsulated by a bonding agent. The overall composite generally includes a composite mat and bonding agent which encompasses the core composite for an integral bond and which may be finished to a Class A automotive finish. The multi-composite material is typically used for structural panels, vehicle bumpers, and like applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Olive, Glenn Sprague, Robert Steinkraus