Patents by Inventor Roger B. Shaffer

Roger B. Shaffer 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: 20240003821
    Abstract: Self-leveling inspection system methods and devices for use in inspecting buried pipes or other cavities are disclosed. The system includes a camera head with an image sensor, an orientation sensor, and a signal processing module including a processing programmed to receive an image from the image sensor, and an orientation signal from the orientation sensor, generate a second image based at least in part on information provided from the orientation sensor, and store the second image in a non-transitory memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Roger B. Shaffer, Stephanie M Bench, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin, David A. Cox
  • Patent number: 11674906
    Abstract: Self-leveling inspection system methods and devices for use in inspecting buried pipes or other cavities are disclosed. The system includes a camera head with an image sensor, an orientation sensor, and a signal processing module including a processing programmed to receive an image from the image sensor, and an orientation signal from the orientation sensor, generate a second image based at least in part on information provided from the orientation sensor, and store the second image in a non-transitory memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Roger B. Shaffer, Stephanie M. Bench, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin, David A. Cox
  • Patent number: 11088890
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wired communications are disclosed. A method for transmitting a data stream through a wired communications channel includes encoding the data stream to produce a first baseband modulating signal I(t) and a second baseband modulating signal Q(t) whose amplitudes together represent a time series of complex symbols (I, Q) each selected from a two-dimensional (2-D) constellation of symbols distributed on the phase plane about the origin such that at least one of the baseband modulating signals has a substantially non-zero mean amplitude, modulating the baseband signals I(t) and Q(t) to produce a modulated signal, wherein the I(t) and Q(t) components of the modulated signals are generally fixed in quadrature, and providing the modulated signal to a wired communications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10841144
    Abstract: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) apparatus and systems for use in providing images or video via a wired connection in a video inspection system are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer, Mark S. Olsson
  • Patent number: 10613034
    Abstract: Self-leveling inspection system methods and devices for use in inspecting buried pipes or other cavities are disclosed. A camera head may include an image sensor, an orientation sensing module, and an image processing module with programming to adjust an image or video provided from the image sensor, based at least in part on information provided from the orientation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Roger B. Shaffer, Stephanie M. Bench, Ray Merewether, Michael Martin, David A. Cox
  • Patent number: 10069667
    Abstract: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer, Mark S. Olsson
  • Publication number: 20180202940
    Abstract: Self-leveling inspection system methods and devices for use in inspecting buried pipes or other cavities are disclosed. A camera head may include an image sensor, an orientation sensing module, and an image processing module with programming to adjust an image or video provided from the image sensor, based at least in part on information provided from the orientation sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: SeeScan Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Roger B. Shaffer, Stephanie M. Bench, Ray Merewether, Michael Martin, David A. Cox
  • Patent number: 10027526
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wired communications are disclosed. A method for transmitting a data stream through a wired communications channel includes encoding the data stream to produce a first baseband modulating signal I(t) and a second baseband modulating signal Q(t) whose amplitudes together represent a time series of complex symbols (I, Q) each selected from a two-dimensional (2-D) constellation of symbols distributed on the phase plane about the origin such that at least one of the baseband modulating signals has a substantially non-zero mean amplitude, modulating the baseband signals I(t) and Q(t) to produce a modulated signal, wherein the I(t) and Q(t) components of the modulated signals are generally fixed in quadrature, and providing the modulated signal to a wired communications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 9927368
    Abstract: Self-leveling inspection systems for use in inspecting buried pipes or other cavities are disclosed. A camera head may include an image sensor, an orientation sensing module, and an image processing module configured to adjust an image or video provided from the image sensor, based at least in part on information provided from the orientation sensor, in the camera head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Roger B. Shaffer, Stephanie M. Bench, Ray Merewether, Michael Martin, David A. Cox
  • Publication number: 20170237598
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wired communications are disclosed. A method for transmitting a data stream through a wired communications channel includes encoding the data stream to produce a first baseband modulating signal I(t) and a second baseband modulating signal Q(t) whose amplitudes together represent a time series of complex symbols (I, Q) each selected from a two-dimensional (2-D) constellation of symbols distributed on the phase plane about the origin such that at least one of the baseband modulating signals has a substantially non-zero mean amplitude, modulating the baseband signals I(t) and Q(t) to produce a modulated signal, wherein the I(t) and Q(t) components of the modulated signals are generally fixed in quadrature, and providing the modulated signal to a wired communications channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: SeeScan Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 9634878
    Abstract: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) methods, apparatus, and systems including a QAM transmit modulator to generate an output signal using a two-dimensional (2-D) QAM symbol constellation is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEE SCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer, Mark S. Olsson
  • Patent number: 9571326
    Abstract: A Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) method and apparatus including a QAM transmit modulator with at least one unbalanced mixer, which creates an asymmetric two-dimensional (2-D) QAM symbol constellation. The asymmetrical symbol constellation provides baseband symbol clock signal leakage sufficient to facilitate quick and simple baseband symbol clock recovery and signal channel compensation at the QAM receiver without significantly degrading the system bit-error rate (BER). While slightly degrading static BER, overall system performance is improved when considering baseband symbol clock recovery and received signal compensation for an imperfect signal channel. This allows QAM to be deployed in systems where QAM is otherwise prohibitively expensive and improves overall system performance for any existing QAM system application without additional bandwidth, cost or complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20100225752
    Abstract: A Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) method and apparatus including a QAM transmit modulator with at least one unbalanced mixer, which creates an asymmetric two-dimensional (2-D) QAM symbol constellation. The asymmetrical symbol constellation provides baseband symbol clock signal leakage sufficient to facilitate quick and simple baseband symbol clock recovery and signal channel compensation at the QAM receiver without significantly degrading the system bit-error rate (BER). While slightly degrading static BER, overall system performance is improved when considering baseband symbol clock recovery and received signal compensation for an imperfect signal channel. This allows QAM to be deployed in systems where QAM is otherwise prohibitively expensive and improves overall system performance for any existing QAM system application without additional bandwidth, cost or complexity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen M. Bench, Roger B. Shaffer