Patents by Inventor Robert T. Knight

Robert T. Knight 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: 10987015
    Abstract: An electroencephalography (EEG) system includes a dry electrode design having a jagged, angular, comb, etc. shaped support housing. Each dry electrode housing includes multiple electrodes where each electrode has multiple contacts for scalp placement with minimal interference from hair. Signals from individual contacts may be disregarded and each housing may provide one or more aggregated signals for data analysis. Each electrode may be placed in close proximity with neighboring electrodes as no conductive gel is required and may be attached to the scalp using straps, elastic cap, spring-type materials, tape, etc. The dry electrode design effectively measures bio-signals including neurological activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10963895
    Abstract: A system evaluates source materials such as videos, imagery, web pages, text, etc., in order to determine priming characteristics associated with the source materials. The system also obtains user preferences such as user interests, purchase history, location information, etc. The priming characteristics and user characteristics are blended to obtain blended attributes. The blended attributes are correlated with stimulus material attributes to intelligently and dynamically select stimulus material such as marketing, entertainment, informational materials, etc., for introduction into the source material. The stimulus material may be inserted in real-time or near real-time into the source material for delivery to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10937051
    Abstract: An example system disclosed herein includes an analyzer to analyze first neuro-response data from a first frequency band of a first subject exposed to source material and second neuro-response data from a second frequency band of the first subject and a selector to identify a candidate location in the source material for introduction of an advertisement or entertainment based on a degree of coherence between a first change in amplitude of the first frequency band measured before a neurological event and a second change in amplitude of the second frequency band measured before the neurological event. The analyzer is to analyze third neuro-response data from at least one of the first subject or a second subject exposed to a combination of the source material and the advertisement or entertainment inserted in the candidate location and determine an effectiveness of the advertisement or entertainment based on the third neuro-response data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: A.K. Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Publication number: 20210030298
    Abstract: Example devices are disclosed herein that include a first elongated band coupled to a first housing to be located on a first side of a head of a subject and a second housing to be located near a second side of the head of the subject, the first elongated band comprising a first set of electrodes. The example device also includes a second elongated band coupled to the first housing and to the second housing, the second elongated band comprising a second set of electrodes. In addition, the device includes a third elongated band coupled to the first housing and to the second housing, the third elongated band comprising a third set of electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy, Yakob Badower, A. K. Pradeep
  • Patent number: 10842403
    Abstract: Example methods are disclosed herein that include obtaining electroencephalographic (EEG) data from a subject via a device comprising two or more independently adjustable bands, each of the bands having a plurality of electrodes to detect the electroencephalographic data from a brain of the subject, each band selectively rotatable relative to an adjacent band and each band selectively compressible to increase a force of the electrodes against a head of the subject. The example method also includes converting the EEG data into digital EEG signals and conditioning the digital EEG signals. In addition, the example method includes analyzing the digital EEG signals using one or more analysis protocols to determine a mental characteristic of the subject and transmitting the mental characteristic to an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Yakob Badower, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy, A. K. Pradeep, Robert T. Knight
  • Publication number: 20200364741
    Abstract: An example system includes an analyzer to identify first activity in first neuro-response data, the first activity generated in response to exposure of a subject to a first stimulus prior to exposure to an advertisement or entertainment; identify second activity in second neuro-response data, the second activity generated in response to re-exposure of the subject to the first stimulus after to exposure to the advertisement or entertainment; calculate a differential event related potential measurement; and calculate a differential event related power spectral perturbation. The example system includes a resonance estimator to determine a subject resonance measurement to the advertisement or the entertainment based on the differential event related potential measurement and adjust at least one of the subject resonance measurement or the differential event related potential measurement based on the differential event related power spectral perturbation to generate an adjusted subject resonance measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10806388
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify an emotion evoked by media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a synthesizer to generate a first synthesized sample based on a pre-verbal utterance associated with a first emotion. A feature extractor is to identify a first value of a first feature of the first synthesized sample. The feature extractor to identify a second value of the first feature of first media evoking an unknown emotion. A classification engine is to create a model based on the first feature. The model is to establish a relationship between the first value of the first feature and the first emotion. The classification engine is to identify the first media as evoking the first emotion when the model indicates that the second value corresponds to the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy, Alexander Topchy, Ratnakar Dev, Padmanabhan Soundararajan, Anantha Pradeep
  • Patent number: 10779745
    Abstract: Example devices are disclosed herein that include a first elongated band coupled to a first housing to be located on a first side of a head of a subject and a second housing to be located near a second side of the head of the subject, the first elongated band comprising a first set of electrodes. The example device also includes a second elongated band coupled to the first housing and to the second housing, the second elongated band comprising a second set of electrodes. In addition, the device includes a third elongated band coupled to the first housing and to the second housing, the third elongated band comprising a third set of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy, Yakob Badower, A. K. Pradeep
  • Publication number: 20200258116
    Abstract: An example system includes an analyzer to identify a degree of amplitude synchrony between a first pattern in a first frequency band in first neuro-response data and a second pattern in a second frequency band in the first neuro-response data, the first neuro-response data gathered via a first modality of collection from a subject while the subject is exposed to media, and modify the degree of amplitude synchrony in response to activity in second neuro-response data, the second neuro-response data gathered via a second modality of collection from the subject while the subject is exposed to the media, the activity corresponding in time to at least a portion of the first pattern or the second pattern. The example system includes an estimator to determine an effectiveness of the media based on the modified degree of amplitude synchrony.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: A.K. Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10733625
    Abstract: Example methods, systems, and machine readable media are disclosed herein for determining a subject resonance measurement. An example method includes accessing first neuro-response data obtained from a subject prior to exposure to an advertisement or entertainment and second neuro-response data obtained from the subject after exposure to the advertisement or the entertainment, respectively. The example method includes calculating, using a processor, a first event related potential measurement and a second event related potential measurement based on the first neuro-response data and the second neuro-response data. The example method includes calculating, using the processor, a differential event related potential measurement based on the first event related potential measurement and the second event related potential measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Publication number: 20200234329
    Abstract: An example system includes an analyzer to determine a first distance between (1) a first peak in a first frequency band of first neuro-response data gathered from a subject while exposed to media and (2) a second peak in the first frequency band; determine a second distance between (1) a third peak in the first frequency band and either (2) the second peak in the first frequency band or (3) a fourth peak in the first frequency band and determine a first difference between the first distance and the second distance. The example system includes a selector to determine a modification for the media based on the first difference and a modifier to implement the modification for presentation of the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10716352
    Abstract: A helmet detects shear force impacts. Indicator elements in the helmet or protective gear provides a visual indication, an audio indication, or a combination is contained in the surface of the outer shell of the helmet and detects when there is a mechanical force imparted on the helmet. One or more sensors are embedded in the helmet and detect when a shear force is imparted on the helmet. In other embodiments, the sensors can detect that there was a mechanical force on the helmet and also measure the energy of the force. The outer surface of the helmet may have a lining that changes appearance with a shear impact force hits the surface of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Brainguard Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Knight
  • Publication number: 20200211033
    Abstract: A neurological profile associated with introversion/extroversion levels, simultaneous visual element processing capability, and/or dynamism processing capability, etc., is determined to select market categories and stimulus material targeted to the particular neurological profile. The neurological profile is determined using information such as user input, user activity, social and environmental factors, genetic and developmental factors, and/or neuro-response data. The neurological profile can be matched with corresponding neurological profile templates to select market categories and stimulus material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10679241
    Abstract: Example apparatus, systems, machine readable media, and methods are disclosed herein for transforming neuro-response data collected using a first modality and a second modality into a measure of effectiveness of an advertisement or entertainment. An example system includes an analyzer to analyze first neuro-response data gathered from a subject while exposed to an advertisement or entertainment using the first modality, the first neuro-response data including electroencephalographic data including a first frequency band and a second frequency band. The example system also includes a processor to identify a degree of phase synchrony between a first pattern of oscillation in the first frequency band and a second pattern of oscillation in the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: A. K. Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Publication number: 20200163571
    Abstract: A system analyzes neuro-response measurements from subjects exposed to video games to identify neurologically salient locations for inclusion of stimulus material and personalized stimulus material such as video streams, advertisements, messages, product offers, purchase offers, etc. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), optical imaging, and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10580031
    Abstract: An example system includes a processor to determine a first distance between a first peak in a first frequency band of neuro-response data gathered from a subject while exposed to media and a second peak in the first frequency band; determine a second distance between a third peak in the first frequency band and either the second peak in the first frequency band or a fourth peak in the first frequency band; determine a first difference between the first distance and the second distance; generate a first response profile for the subject based on the first difference; and integrate the first response profile with a second response profile associated with a second subject to form an integrated response profile. A selector is to select an advertisement or entertainment for presentation based on the integrated response profile. The processor is to modify the media to present the advertisement or entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Publication number: 20200005339
    Abstract: An example system disclosed herein for transforming neuro-response data into media ratings includes a data collector to obtain first neuro-response from a first subject exposed to a first media and second neuro-response data from a second subject exposed to a second media. The first media broadcast is before a time of the second media. The example system includes an analyzer to integrate the first neuro-response data with ratings data for the first media to generate a first rating for the first media. The ratings data is based on set-top box data associated with a media presentation device presenting the first media. The analyzer is to transform the second neuro-response data into a second rating for the second media based on the first rating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Patent number: 10448690
    Abstract: A protective facemask for a helmet includes one or more compression portions. In one aspect, a facemask of a plurality of arcuately curved bars includes a frame portion and lateral bars configured to extend across the frontal opening of the helmet and join to the frame portion at terminal ends. The lateral bars include one or more compression portions which are more compliant to a given force than other portions of the plurality of arcuately curved bars. A compression portion may include a first material that is less rigid than a second material forming the other portions of the arcuately curved bars. A compression portion may further include first and second zones, with the first zone being more compliant to the given force than the second zone. Such compression portions may be positioned within the lateral bars near the point of joining with the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Brainguard Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Knight
  • Publication number: 20190282153
    Abstract: Presentation of materials such as advertising and marketing materials is evaluated and/or dynamically modified using neurographical data. User images, video, and audio, etc. are analyzed when a user is presented with stimulus materials. User data such as a user image is matched with a neurographical aggregate to identify user information and emotional state. The neurographical aggregate identifies actions and/or additional stimulus material for presentation to the user. User information and emotional state also allow evaluation of the presented materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Anantha Pradeep, Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy
  • Publication number: 20190220888
    Abstract: An example system disclosed herein includes an analyzer to determine a first priming characteristic of media at a first location based on first neuro-response data and determine a second priming characteristic of the media at the second location based on second neuro-response data. The example system includes a selector to select a third location in the media after the first location or a fourth location in the media after the second location as a candidate location for introduction of advertising material based on the first priming characteristic and the second priming characteristic. The selector is to select the third location when the first priming characteristic indicates increased receptivity to the advertising material at the first location relative to the second priming characteristic and select the fourth location when the second priming characteristic indicates increased receptivity to the advertising material at the second location relative to the first priming characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Robert T. Knight, Ramachandran Gurumoorthy, Anantha Pradeep