Patents by Inventor Spyros Brown

Spyros Brown 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: 10409384
    Abstract: A switch actuating device for actuating a switch by eight types of non-tactile gestures performed with an object emitting heat includes a gesture sensor with four pixels configured to detect heat emitted by the object. The pixels include thin films made of pyroelectric sensitive material which generate a signal that has signal deflections corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of the heat detected by the thin film of the corresponding pixel. The types of the gestures are determined with a signal processing unit which controls an actuator to actuate the switch when a performance of one of the types of the gestures is determined. The gesture types are determined during an approach phase when the object approaches the gesture sensor, a waiting phase during when the object remains close to the gesture sensor, and a subsequent translational phase when the object moves in one of eight directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Pyreos Ltd.
    Inventors: Spyros Brown, Timothy John Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Carsten Giebeler
  • Patent number: 10007353
    Abstract: A switch operating device (100) configured to operate a switch (103) with four possible types (111 to 114) of non-tactile translational gestures performed with a heat emitting part (115). A gesture sensor (1) is adapted to detect heat emitted by the part while performing one of the translational gesture types. Four pixels (21 to 24) are arranged next to each other and output a signal (51 to 54) per pixel, wherein the signal has a signal deflection (58) corresponding to the temporal intensity curve of the heat detected by the thin film of the corresponding pixel. A signal processing unit (101) determines the performance of the translational gesture types from the temporal succession of the signal deflections (58). An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when one of the translational gesture types is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Pyreos Ltd.
    Inventors: Carsten Giebeler, Spyros Brown, Tim Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz
  • Patent number: 10001840
    Abstract: Switch operating device (100) with: a gesture sensor operating a switch (103) with a non-tactile push-gesture performed with a heat emitting part. The gesture has an approach phase (111) during which the part approaches the sensor, a waiting phase (113) during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase (112) during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs per pixel a signal (51 to 54) with signal deflections (56, 57) corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel while the gesture (115) is performed. A signal processing unit (101) which determines performance of the gesture from a temporal succession of signal deflections. An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the gesture is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Pyreos Ltd.
    Inventors: Carsten Giebeler, Spyros Brown, Tim Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz
  • Patent number: 9857880
    Abstract: Switch operating device (100) with: a presence sensor operating a switch (103) in response to presence of a heat emitting part. The presence has an approach phase (31) during which the part approaches the presence sensor, a remaining phase during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase (41) during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs a signal (51 to 54) with signal deflections (56, 57) corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel. A signal processing unit (101) determines the approach and withdrawal phases from the temporal succession and the shape of the signal deflections. An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the approach phase, the remaining phase and/or the withdrawal phase is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Pyreos Ltd.
    Inventors: Carsten Giebeler, Spyros Brown, Tim Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz
  • Publication number: 20170264292
    Abstract: A switch actuating device for actuating a switch by eight types of non-tactile gestures performed with an object emitting heat includes a gesture sensor with four pixels configured to detect heat emitted by the object. The pixels include thin films made of pyroelectric sensitive material which generate a signal that has signal deflections corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of the heat detected by the thin film of the corresponding pixel. The types of the gestures are determined with a signal processing unit which controls an actuator to actuate the switch when a performance of one of the types of the gestures is determined. The gesture types are determined during an approach phase when the object approaches the gesture sensor, a waiting phase during when the object remains close to the gesture sensor, and a subsequent translational phase when the object moves in one of eight directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Spyros Brown, Tim Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Carsten Giebeler
  • Publication number: 20160154467
    Abstract: Switch operating device (100) with: a gesture sensor operating a switch (103) with a non-tactile push-gesture performed with a heat emitting part. The gesture has an approach phase (111) during which the part approaches the sensor, a waiting phase (113) during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase (112) during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs per pixel a signal (51 to 54) with signal deflections (56, 57) corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel while the gesture (115) is performed. A signal processing unit (101) which determines performance of the gesture from a temporal succession of signal deflections. An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the gesture is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Carsten Giebeler, Spyros Brown, Tim Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz
  • Publication number: 20160077583
    Abstract: Switch operating device (100) with: a presence sensor operating a switch (103) in response to presence of a heat emitting part. The presence has an approach phase (31) during which the part approaches the presence sensor, a remaining phase during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase (41) during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs a signal (51 to 54) with signal deflections (56, 57) corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel. A signal processing unit (101) determines the approach and withdrawal phases from the temporal succession and the shape of the signal deflections. An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the approach phase, the remaining phase and/or the withdrawal phase is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Carsten Giebeler, Spyros Brown, Tim Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz
  • Publication number: 20160077600
    Abstract: A switch operating device (100) configured to operate a switch (103) with four possible types (111 to 114) of non-tactile translational gestures performed with a heat emitting part (115). A gesture sensor (1) is adapted to detect heat emitted by the part while performing one of the translational gesture types. Four pixels (21 to 24) are arranged next to each other and output a signal (51 to 54) per pixel, wherein the signal has a signal deflection (58) corresponding to the temporal intensity curve of the heat detected by the thin film of the corresponding pixel. A signal processing unit (101) determines the performance of the translational gesture types from the temporal succession of the signal deflections (58). An actuator (104) is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when one of the translational gesture types is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Carsten Giebeler, Spyros Brown, Tim Chamberlain, Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz