Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Hallaian

Stephen C. Hallaian 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: 11964215
    Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
  • Publication number: 20230050151
    Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
  • Patent number: 11471783
    Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
  • Publication number: 20200330886
    Abstract: A toy vehicle track system of the present application includes electrical connections between the track pieces that allow a central hub, referred to herein as a “portal piece,” to communicate with any track pieces included in the track system. In order to ensure that the portal piece can quickly and accurately identify track configurations that are built, the toy vehicle track system implements a communications protocol that supports communications between any two pieces of track. Based on these communications, the portal piece can determine an orientation, a track type, and a position of any track pieces attached, whether directly or indirectly, to the portal piece. The portal piece can then transmit this information to an electronic device executing an application associated with the track system to allow for digital play on a digital version of the track configuration (among other digital play modes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy Lynn Kelliher, Christopher D. Cimerman, Gerry Cody, Stephen C. Hallaian, Adam Miller, Jebraeil Samo
  • Patent number: 8157609
    Abstract: A mind-control toy is provided, comprising one or more biosensors configured to detect brainwave activity and generate signals based on the detected brainwave activity. A controller may be responsive to the signals to direct a member to effect movement of one or more objects. In some embodiments, the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device, and the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object. In some such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes an obstacle course defining an aerial path. In other such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a track along which players can compete or cooperate. In other embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a maze, a portion of which may be rotated using mind control to maneuver the object from a start zone to an end zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hallaian, Stephen P. K. Lau, Kam Young-eun Kim Redlawsk, Joseph W. Franke
  • Publication number: 20120052944
    Abstract: A timed reaction game apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include an electronic console and a plurality of illumination areas disposed on the electronic console. The plurality of illumination areas may include an array having a radial symmetry and may be configured to display a visual cue sequence. The apparatus may further include an array of vibration sensors attached to the electronic console in substantial radial alignment with the illumination areas, wherein each of the vibration sensors is associated with a target zone and is configured to locate a tapping response proximate to a respective vibration sensor, and a processor configured to generate a visual cue sequence, to record a tapping response sequence detected by the vibration sensors, and to generate a score based on temporal correlation and spatial correlation between a visual cue sequence and a tapping response sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Damon R. Saddler, Stephen Lau, Jeff W. Bazarko, Stephen C. Hallaian
  • Publication number: 20120021811
    Abstract: An electronic memory game system including a base unit, a plurality of triggers disposed on the base unit, a housing mounted to the base unit and extending over a portion of the base unit, a plurality of illumination devices disposed on the housing for displaying a memory challenge sequence, wherein the plurality of triggers are actuated to generate a memory response sequence to the memory challenge sequence, and/or a wireless communication device configured to communicate with a remote wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Erich Weidetz, Susan Stanton, Stephen C. Hallaian
  • Publication number: 20100105478
    Abstract: A mind-control toy is provided, comprising one or more biosensors configured to detect brainwave activity and generate signals based on the detected brainwave activity. A controller may be responsive to the signals to direct a member to effect movement of one or more objects. In some embodiments, the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device, and the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object. In some such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes an obstacle course defining an aerial path. In other such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a track along which players can compete or cooperate. In other embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a maze, a portion of which may be rotated using mind control to maneuver the object from a start zone to an end zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hallaian, Stephen P.K. Lau, Kam Young-eun Kim Redlawsk, Joseph W. Franke