Patents by Inventor Thomas DC Little

Thomas DC Little 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: 10505629
    Abstract: An optical wireless communications receiver includes a set of photodetectors and signal processing circuitry that receive and process optical communications signals to generate receive data. The receiver includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) and associated SLM controller. The SLM receives an incident optical communications signals from remote optical transmitters and selectively directs the received optical communications signals to the photodetectors to realize an SLM pattern according to SLM control signals from the SLM controller. A system controller establishes the SLM pattern and communicates a description of it to the SLM controller for use in generating the SLM control signals. The receiver may be used in a variety of applications, including so-called visible-light communications or VLC, in which data is transmitted over an optical link using light in the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Thomas DC Little, Jimmy Chau
  • Publication number: 20190360714
    Abstract: Sensing and control apparatus for a building HVAC system includes interior and boundary sensors, such as cameras and thermal sensors, generating sensor signals conveying occupancy-related features for an area. A controller uses the sensor signals to produce an occupancy estimate and to generate equipment-control signals to cause the HVAC system to supply conditioned air to the area based on the occupancy estimate. The controller includes fusion systems collectively generating the occupancy estimate by corresponding fusion calculations, the fusion systems producing a boundary occupancy-count change based on sensor signals from the boundary sensors, an interior occupancy count based on sensor signals from the interior sensors, and the overall occupancy estimate. Fusion may be of one or multiple types including cross-modality fusion across different sensor types, within-modality fusion across different instances of same-type sensors, and cross-algorithm fusion using different algorithms for the same sensor(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Janusz L. Konrad, Prakash Ishwar, Thomas DC Little, Michael Gevelber
  • Publication number: 20190165859
    Abstract: An optical wireless communications receiver includes a set of photodetectors and signal processing circuitry that receive and process optical communications signals to generate receive data. The receiver includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) and associated SLM controller. The SLM receives an incident optical communications signals from remote optical transmitters and selectively directs the received optical communications signals to the photodetectors to realize an SLM pattern according to SLM control signals from the SLM controller. A system controller establishes the SLM pattern and communicates a description of it to the SLM controller for use in generating the SLM control signals. The receiver may be used in a variety of applications, including so-called visible-light communications or VLC, in which data is transmitted over an optical link using light in the visible spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas DC Little, Jimmy Chau
  • Publication number: 20120158437
    Abstract: Systems and methods are discussed for providing a sensor enhanced employee safety evaluation system. Systems that monitor and assess employee lifting behavior are employed at the workplace of an insured entity. Data from the lift monitoring systems are processed to obtain a safety evaluation. Based on the safety evaluation, the insurance provider can adjust the terms of the insurance policy to accurately reflect the risks associated with the insured entity. Feedback based on the safety evaluation is also provided to the insured entity and the employees of the insured entity to promote improvements in safe behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas DC Little, Robert Cornelis Wagenaar, John J. Anthony, III, Michael J. Gingrave
  • Patent number: 8149126
    Abstract: Systems and methods are discussed for providing a sensor enhanced employee safety evaluation system. Systems that monitor and assess employee lifting behavior are employed at the workplace of an insured entity. Data from the lift monitoring systems are processed to obtain a safety evaluation. Based on the safety evaluation, the insurance provider can adjust the terms of the insurance policy to accurately reflect the risks associated with the insured entity. Feedback based on the safety evaluation is also provided to the insured entity and the employees of the insured entity to promote improvements in safe behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventors: Thomas DC Little, Robert Cornelis Wagenaar, John J. Anthony, III, Michael J. Gingrave
  • Publication number: 20090135009
    Abstract: Systems and methods are discussed for providing a sensor enhanced employee safety evaluation system. Systems that monitor and assess employee lifting behavior are employed at the workplace of an insured entity. Data from the lift monitoring systems are processed to obtain a safety evaluation. Based on the safety evaluation, the insurance provider can adjust the terms of the insurance policy to accurately reflect the risks associated with the insured entity. Feedback based on the safety evaluation is also provided to the insured entity and the employees of the insured entity to promote improvements in safe behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas DC Little, Robert Cornelis Wagenaar, John J. Anthony, III, Michael J. Gingrave