Patents by Inventor Russell Smith

Russell Smith 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: 9876282
    Abstract: The present application discloses a dual open-ended waveguide (DOEWG) antenna apparatus. The apparatus may include a plurality of radiating elements configured to radiate electromagnetic energy. Each radiating element may have an associated amplitude and phase. The apparatus may further include a waveguide configured to propagate an electromagnetic signal from a waveguide feed to the radiating elements. The radiating elements are arranged in a plurality of doublets. Each doublet includes at least two radiating elements and is coupled to the waveguide via a respective doublet neck. At least one doublet in the plurality of doublets is coupled to the waveguide via a doublet neck that has a first height proximate a first radiating element in the at least one doublet and a second height proximate a second radiating element in the at least one doublet in which the first height is different from the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Jamal Izadian, Russell Smith
  • Publication number: 20180013208
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide of an antenna block configured to propagate electromagnetic energy along a propagation direction. The antenna block includes a port located on a bottom surface of the antenna block and an antenna array located on a top surface of the antenna block. The antenna block further includes a set of waveguides in the antenna block configured to couple the antenna array to the port. Additionally, the antenna block includes at least one surface wave radiator, where the surface wave radiator is located on the top surface of the antenna block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Jamal Izadian, Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 9756458
    Abstract: Some examples include determining a proximity between a first user device and a plurality of other user devices based at least in part on comparing location information of the first user device with location information for the plurality of other user devices. Additionally, a commonality may be determined that is associated with at least some user profiles of the other users, but is unassociated with a user profile of the first user. For example, the commonality may have a frequency of occurrence among the user profiles of the other users that is greater than the frequency of occurrence among user profiles associated with a larger population. In other examples, a first portable computing device may receive profile information from a nearby second portable computing device for determining a compatibility between a first user profile and a second user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Shih Shen Chein, Peter Thomas Killalea, Hilliard Bruce Siegel, Brent Russell Smith, Walter Manching Tseng
  • Patent number: 9650054
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the location of a vehicle. According to one aspect the method and apparatus the movements of motor rotors in a vehicle are monitored and used to determine speed, travel distance and/or travel path of a vehicle may be determined. Using various navigation techniques, the distance and travel path may then be used to determine the vehicle's location. Furthermore, movements of the motor rotors may also be used to report the positions of the steering and drive systems for the purpose of informing the vehicle controller as a method of feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Carsten Jensen, Andrew Barton-Sweeney, Russell Smith, Daniel Lynn Larner
  • Patent number: 9612317
    Abstract: An example method for a beamforming network for feeding short wall slotted waveguide arrays. The beamforming network may include six beamforming network outputs, where each beamforming network output is coupled to one of a set of waveguide inputs. Further, the beamforming network may include a cascaded set of dividers configured to split electromagnetic energy from a beamforming network input to the six phase-adjustment sections. The cascade may include a first level of the cascade configured to split the electromagnetic energy from the beamforming network input into two first-level beamforming waveguides, a second level configured to split the electromagnetic energy from each of two first-level beamforming waveguides into two respective second-level beamforming waveguides, and a third level of the cascade configured to split the electromagnetic energy from one of two respective second-level beamforming waveguides into two respective third-level beamforming waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jamal Izadian, Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 9552603
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for relating individual items to categories of items purchased concurrently by a customer. A representative category may be assigned to each of the items offered for sale by an online merchant. Purchase history data containing information regarding each item purchased by a customer on a specific date is augmented with information regarding each representative category of items from which an item was purchased by the customer on the same date. From the purchase history data, an attach rate is calculated between each particular item and a number of representative categories indicating the frequency of concurrency of purchase of the particular item with items assigned to the representative category. A user interface may then be generated containing the attach rates between the particular item and the representative categories and sent to a customer computer for display to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Chanda, Brent Russell Smith, Homer G. Morgan, III, Ronald M. Whitman, Jeffrey T. Brownell
  • Publication number: 20170002768
    Abstract: A hypersonic vehicle has a body, a control surface, and a hypersonic air-breathing engine. The engine includes a converging inlet having a fixed cowling having a first cross-sectional area and a throat having a second cross-sectional area. A flow restrictor is movable between a stowed position and a fully deployed position. The flow restrictor has a third cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, such that a consistent gap is formed between a periphery of the flow restrictor and an inner surface of the cowling with the flow restrictor in the fully deployed position and the difference between the first cross-sectional area and the third cross-sectional area is approximately equal to the second cross-sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin Gerald Bowcutt, Thomas Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 9483072
    Abstract: A cam system includes a beam including a plurality of coupling features. A first handle is operable to be coupled to the beam using the coupling features. A plurality of cam elements are each operable to be coupled to the beam at different locations along the beam using the coupling features. A plurality of cam brackets are each operable to be mounted to a first member having a first connector. The coupled-together beam, first handle, and cam elements are operable to be coupled a second member having a second connector such that, with the cam brackets mounted to the first member, the engagement of the cam elements with the cam brackets mate the first connector and the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Corey D. Hartman, Alejandro Z. Rodriguez, Russell Smith
  • Publication number: 20160286982
    Abstract: An inflatable child safety bed for providing safe, soft and comfortable place for special needs children to be safely secured for bedtime purposes. Moreover, the inflatable nature of the bed provides a protective barrier between them and the outside environment. The inflatable child safety bed generally comprises an upper inflatable structure adapted to be secured to a bed having a mattress. In other versions, the inflatable child safety bed further includes a removable attachable inflatable bottom mattress adapted to couple with the upper inflatable structure in order to provide a flooring to the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventor: Jonathan Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 9395727
    Abstract: A radio detection and ranging (RADAR) system that emits radio signals from a transmit antenna and receives reflected signals with a receive array of antenna elements. The signals received at the receive array are conveyed through a plurality of waveguide couplers. The plurality of waveguide couplers receives signals from each antenna element at a plurality of antenna ports and outputs signals from a plurality of output ports. The waveguide couplers convey signals such that the output ports receive signals from associated sub-array sets of the antenna ports. The waveguide couplers have an overlapping arrangement such that a given sub-array set of antenna ports overlaps with a neighboring sub-array set of antenna ports by including at least half of the antenna ports in the neighboring sub-array set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Smith, Jamal Izadian
  • Patent number: 9390447
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a recommendation insertion application. Instances of abandonment for media content are aggregated. A recommendation insertion point is calculated as a function of the instances of abandonment. A recommendation for suggested content is inserted into the media content at the recommendation insertion point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 9388642
    Abstract: A flexible pipe fatigue monitoring system 30 comprising a pipe monitoring system 32, 40, 42 adapted to be provided on a flexible pipe 10 having a bend stiffener 18. The pipe monitoring system 40, 42 is provided on the pipe 10 below the bend stiffener 18. The monitoring system 32 measures one or more of bending, tension and torsion of the pipe 10. The pipe monitoring system 30 comprises sensor carrier members 40, 42 adapted to be coupled to the pipe 10 and at least one fiber Bragg grating strain sensor embedded in a carrier member 40, 42. An inclinometer 34 is provided on one carrier member 40 to measure the incline of the pipe 10 relative to earth. A central processor 38 is provided to receive bending, tension and torsion information and incline information, and is operable to determine pipe fatigue from said information. A method of flexible pipe fatigue monitoring is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Mangal, Lenny Sutherland, Russell Smith, Damon Roberts
  • Publication number: 20160047907
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present application describes an apparatus for a radar system. The apparatus may include a vehicle with four radar units mounted on it. Each radar unit may be configured with a half-power scanning beamwidth and a respective broadside direction. The half-power scanning beamwidth of each radar unit may be configured to scan approximately 90 degrees. A first radar unit may have a broadside direction that is approximately 90 degrees from respective broadside directions of a second radar unit and a fourth radar unit. The second radar unit may have a broadside direction that is approximately 90 degrees from respective broadside directions of the first radar unit and a third radar unit. The third radar unit has a broadside direction that is approximately 90 degrees from respective broadside directions of the second radar unit and the fourth radar unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Jamal Izadian, Russell Smith
  • Publication number: 20160047893
    Abstract: An example method for a beamforming network for feeding short wall slotted waveguide arrays. The beamforming network may include six beamforming network outputs, where each beamforming network output is coupled to one of a set of waveguide inputs. Further, the beamforming network may include a cascaded set of dividers configured to split electromagnetic energy from a beamforming network input to the six phase-adjustment sections. The cascade may include a first level of the cascade configured to split the electromagnetic energy from the beamforming network input into two first-level beamforming waveguides, a second level configured to split the electromagnetic energy from each of two first-level beamforming waveguides into two respective second-level beamforming waveguides, and a third level of the cascade configured to split the electromagnetic energy from one of two respective second-level beamforming waveguides into two respective third-level beamforming waveguides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Jamal Izadian, Russell Smith
  • Patent number: 9205828
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the location of a vehicle. According to one aspect the method and apparatus the movements of motor rotors in a vehicle are monitored and used to determine speed, travel distance and/or travel path of a vehicle may be determined. Using various navigation techniques, the distance and travel path may then be used to determine the vehicle's location. Furthermore, movements of the motor rotors may also be used to report the positions of the steering and drive systems for the purpose of informing the vehicle controller as a method of feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Craig Lombrozo, Carsten Jensen, Andrew Barton-Sweeney, Russell Smith, Daniel Lynn Larner
  • Patent number: 9181361
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for separating a purge gas recovered from a polyethylene product. The method includes recovering a polyethylene product containing one or more volatile hydrocarbons from a polymerization reactor and contacting the polyethylene product with a purge gas to remove at least a portion of the volatile hydrocarbons to produce a polymer product having a reduced concentration of volatile hydrocarbons and a purge gas product enriched in volatile hydrocarbons. The purge gas product is compressed to a pressure of 2,500 kPaa to 10,000 kPaa, and is then cooled and separated into at least a first product, a second product, and a third product. A portion of one or more of the first, second, or third products is then recycled as a purge gas, to the polymerization reactor, or to the purge gas product enriched in volatile hydrocarbons prior to compression, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Blood, Randall L. Force, Theodore D. Duncan, George W. Schwarz, Jr., Daniel W. Mosser, Donald A. Fischer, Robert D. Olson, James Leland Swecker, II, Cloid Russell Smith, III
  • Patent number: 9083600
    Abstract: Providing presence information within digital items is described. In one example, a server system receives presence information from a plurality of client devices. The presence information indicates a portion of a digital item associated with at least one user of each respective client device. The server system also receives a user identification request from a requesting client device to identify one or more users of the plurality of client devices associated with a particular portion of the digital item. Additionally, the server system identifies a user of a particular client device associated with the particular portion of the digital item based on the presence information of the particular client device and sends an identifier of the user of the particular client device to the requesting client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Russell Smith, Tom Killalea
  • Patent number: 9070156
    Abstract: Various processes are disclosed for discovering item relationships between particular items, such as products represented in an electronic catalog, based on monitored user behaviors (e.g., item viewing activities, item purchases, shopping cart activities, etc.). The discovered item relationships may, for example, be used to generate personalized item recommendations for users, and/or to supplement item detail pages of an electronic catalog with lists of related items. Also disclosed are processes for generating personalized item recommendations based on users' search activities and browse node visits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Linden, Brent Russell Smith, Nida K. Zada
  • Patent number: 9043072
    Abstract: Methods and systems for correcting an estimated heading using a map are disclosed. Map data indicative of a map of an environment of a vehicle and data indicative of an estimated heading the vehicle is received. A sensor obtains first spatial data indicative of locations of objects in the environment relative to the vehicle at a first time. A first location of the vehicle on the map is determined based on the first spatial data. The sensor obtains second spatial data indicative of locations of objects in the environment relative to the vehicle at a second time. A second location of the vehicle on the map is determined based on the second spatial data. A heading correction of the vehicle is determined based on the estimated heading, the first location, the first time, the second location, and the second time, and a speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: John Tisdale, Russell Smith, Nathaniel Fairfield
  • Patent number: 8922426
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are provided for position estimation in a geo-location system. For example, the method can include receiving a plurality of position measurements from a respective plurality of satellites in a global navigation satellite system. From the plurality of position measurements, a position measurement with a maximum pseudo-range residual value can be selected. A position uncertainty estimate can be determined based on the position measurement with the maximum pseudo-range residual value. Further, a position estimation algorithm can receive the position uncertainty estimate as an input, thereby improving position estimation of the geo-location system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Smith, Romain Clement