Patents by Inventor Samuel A. Williams

Samuel A. Williams 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: 9118841
    Abstract: A first plurality of images of a scene may be captured. Each image of the first plurality of images may be captured with a different total exposure time (TET). Based at least on the first plurality of images, a TET sequence may be determined for capturing images of the scene. A second plurality of images of the scene may be captured. Images in the second plurality of images may be captured using the TET sequence. Based at least on the second plurality of images, an output image of the scene may be constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Stewart Levoy, Ryan Geiss, Samuel William Hasinoff
  • Patent number: 9117134
    Abstract: A base m×n tile, X, of a base image of a scene, and an alternate m×n tile, Y, of an alternate image of the scene may be obtained. An m×n blend map, B, for X and Y may also be obtained. B(i,j) may take on a first value to refer to X(i,j), or a second value to refer to Y(i,j). An m×n conflict map, C, for X and Y may further be obtained. C(i,j) may take on a third value where X(i,j) and Y(i,j) are within a threshold value of one another, or a fourth value where X(i,j) and Y(i,j) are not within the threshold value of one another. Based on B and C, the pixel values of X and Y may be merged to form an m×n tile Z.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Geiss, Samuel William Hasinoff
  • Publication number: 20150217790
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating data obtain operational data associated with a control system of a vehicle consist. The operational data is obtained at a first vehicle of the consist. The operational data is communicated from the first vehicle to one or more second vehicles in the consist. Responsive to a loss of the operational data at the first vehicle, at least the operational data that was lost at the first vehicle can be communicated from one or more of the second vehicles to the first vehicle. Onboard the first vehicle, an operational capability of the consist to perform a movement event can be determined using the operational data that was lost at the first vehicle and that was communicated from the at least one of the one or more second vehicles to the first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Samuel William Golden, Jared Klineman Cooper, David Allen Eldredge
  • Patent number: 9087391
    Abstract: A first plurality of images of a scene may be captured. Each image of the first plurality of images may be captured using a different TET. Based at least on the first plurality of images, a long TET, a short TET, and a TET sequence that includes the long TET and the short TET may be determined. A second plurality of images of the scene may be captured. The images in the second plurality of images may be captured sequentially in an image sequence using a sequence of TETs corresponding to the TET sequence. Based on one or more images in the image sequence, an output image may be constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Geiss, Samuel William Hasinoff
  • Patent number: 9076033
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help a computing device, such as a head-mountable device (HMD), to capture and process images in response to a user placing their hands in, and then withdrawing their hands from, a frame formation. For example, an HMD may analyze image data from a point-of-view camera on the HMD, and detect when a wearer holds their hands in front of their face to frame a subject in the wearer's field of view. Further, the HMD may detect when the wearer withdraws their hands from such a frame formation and responsively capture an image. Further, the HMD may determine a selection area that is being framed, within the wearer's field of view, by the frame formation. The HMD may then process the captured image based on the frame formation, such as by cropping, white-balancing, and/or adjusting exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Tilton Barron, Marc Stewart Levoy, Samuel William Hasinoff
  • Patent number: 9077913
    Abstract: A total exposure time (TET) may be selected. A plurality of images of a scene may be captured using respective TETs that are based on the selected TET. At least two of the images in the plurality of images may be combined to form a merged short-exposure image. A digital gain may be applied to the merged short-exposure image to form a virtual long-exposure image. The merged short-exposure image and the virtual long-exposure image may be combined to form an output image. More of the output image may be properly-exposed than either of the merged short-exposure image or the virtual long-exposure image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel William Hasinhoff, Ryan Geiss
  • Publication number: 20150183448
    Abstract: A route examination system and method automatically detect (with an identification unit onboard a vehicle having one or more processors) a location of a break in conductivity of a first route during movement of the vehicle along the first route. The system and method also identify (with the identification unit) one or more of a location of the vehicle on the first route or the first route from among several different routes based at least in part on the location of the break in the conductivity of the first route that is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Samuel William Golden, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Yuri Alexeyevich Plotnikov, Jeffrey Michael Fries, Steven Joseph Ehret, Nicholas David Nagrodsky
  • Publication number: 20150177012
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a trip plan for a vehicle system determine a first trip plan for a trip of a vehicle system from a first location to a second location over a first route that includes a first intersection with a second route. The first trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. An alternate trip plan that extends along the second route from the first intersection to the second location of the trip of the vehicle system also is determined. The first and alternate trip plans are determined prior to the vehicle system reaching the first intersection. Movement of the vehicle system is controlled according to the first trip plan prior to the vehicle system reaching the first intersection and then controlled according to the alternate trip plan responsive to the vehicle system deviating from the first trip plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Jared Klineman COOPER, David Allen ELDREDGE, Samuel William GOLDEN
  • Patent number: 9052573
    Abstract: A stabilizer apparatus for use with video devices that provides smooth video images. The stabilizer device comprises a gimbal system operably attached to a counterweighted pole. A video device operably attached to the top end of the pole can be balanced utilizing two or more opposing counter weights operably connected to the pole. The gimbal system is affixed to the pole and maintains the balance of the video device. A handle device attached to the gimbal system allows the stabilizer apparatus to be moved during video production, while maintaining the balance of the video device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: STEADBITZ, LLC
    Inventors: David Johnston, David Kaufman, Samuel William Johnston, IV
  • Patent number: 9045123
    Abstract: A system may include a vehicle system including at least one vehicle, wherein the at least one vehicle includes at least one handbrake. The system may also include a handbrake setting determination unit configured to determine a handbrake setting control input indicating whether the at least one handbrake is to be set in order to park the vehicle system at a particular location without moving. A handbrake setting suggestion may be based on the handbrake setting control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Kristopher Ryan Smith, Samuel William Golden
  • Publication number: 20150109478
    Abstract: A first plurality of images of a scene may be captured. Each image of the first plurality of images may be captured with a different total exposure time (TET). Based at least on the first plurality of images, a TET sequence may be determined for capturing images of the scene. A second plurality of images of the scene may be captured. Images in the second plurality of images may be captured using the TET sequence. Based at least on the second plurality of images, an output image of the scene may be constructed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Marc Stewart LEVOY, Ryan GEISS, Samuel William HASINOFF
  • Publication number: 20150093099
    Abstract: A hand held appliance comprises a body having an outer wall, a duct extending at least partially along the body within the outer wall, an interior passage extending about the duct for receiving a primary fluid flow, a primary fluid outlet for emitting the primary fluid flow from the body, wherein the primary fluid outlet is defined by the duct and an inner wall of the body. The inner wall may extend from the outer wall towards the duct and may extend radially around the duct. The inner wall may extend from the outer wall towards the primary fluid outlet. At least one spacer may be provided between the inner wall and the duct. The at least one spacer may be a supporting rib. The duct may be formed from two parts, a first part fixed to the inner wall and a second part connected to the first part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Edward Sebert Maurice SHELTON, Samuel William SAUNDERS, Patrick Joseph William MOLONEY
  • Publication number: 20150091374
    Abstract: A rotatable LIDAR device including contactless electrical couplings is disclosed. An example rotatable LIDAR device includes a vehicle electrical coupling including (i) a first conductive ring, (ii) a second conductive ring, and (iii) a first coil. The example rotatable LIDAR device further includes a LIDAR electrical coupling including (i) a third conductive ring, (ii) a fourth conductive ring, and (iii) a second coil. The example rotatable LIDAR device still further includes a rotatable LIDAR electrically coupled to the LIDAR electrical coupling. The first conductive ring and the third conductive ring form a first capacitor configured to transmit communications to the rotatable LIDAR, the second conductive ring and the fourth conductive ring form a second capacitor configured to transmit communications from the rotatable LIDAR, and the first coil and the second coil form a transformer configured to provide power to the rotatable LIDAR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel William Lenius, Pierre-yves Droz
  • Patent number: 8995788
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for selecting source imagery for a planar panorama comprising a curved path. The curved path can be identified in a block of source imagery, where the source imagery comprises inside-curve source imagery for an inside curve of the curved path. Image data from a first source image from the inside-curve source imagery can be compared with image data from a second source image from the inside-curve source imagery. If image data of the first source image sufficiently overlaps image data of the second source image the first source image can selected for inclusion in a set of images to be used for the planar panorama, while the second source image may not be so selected (e.g., to mitigate artifacts, object overlap, repeated objects, etc. in the planar panorama).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Williams, Jonathan Rosenberg, Johanness Kopf, Don Kim
  • Patent number: 8995784
    Abstract: A structure descriptor for an m×n pixel block of an image may be determined. The m×n pixel block may contain a primary pixel having a primary pixel value and a plurality of secondary pixels having respective secondary pixel values. The structure descriptor may include a plurality of structure indicators each associated with a respective secondary pixel. The respective structure indicators may be based on the primary pixel value and the respective secondary pixel value of the associated secondary pixel. Based on the structure descriptor, a structure value for the m×n pixel block may be determined. Based on the structure value, image processing may be applied to the m×n pixel block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel William Hasinoff, Changyin Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150076290
    Abstract: A detection system for a rail vehicle includes a control module, which has a sensor input for receiving a signal from a sensor. The control module is configured to receive the signal and to output information responsive to the signal. In operation, the control module and a sensor are deployed on board the rail vehicle. The sensor is configured to generate the signal responsive to detecting a designated condition on board the rail vehicle. When the condition occurs, the sensor outputs the signal, which is received by the control module. Responsive to the signal, the control module outputs the information, such as communicating information of the signal content to another rail vehicle, or to an off board location. The designated condition may be unauthorized use of a handheld wireless device in a rail vehicle, or intruder entry into an unmanned rail vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, John William Brand, Robert Francis Bryant, Scott William Dulmage, David Allen Eldredge, Robert James Foy, Samuel William Golden, John Welsh McElroy
  • Patent number: D724283
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Daragh Michael Manning, Darren David Holmes, Samuel William Bennett
  • Patent number: D725857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Samuel William Bennett, Jennifer Kathryn Marsden, Robert Alexander Hankin
  • Patent number: D730600
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Ryan Springell, May Wilson, Samuel William Bennett, Daniel William Carter, Matthew James Ward
  • Patent number: D737527
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryan Springell, May Wilson, Samuel William Bennett, Daniel William Carter, Matthew James Ward