Patents by Inventor William D. Duncan

William D. Duncan 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: 10967989
    Abstract: A tail-cone reinforcement angle of a Cessna 180-185 series aircraft is repaired by the removal of an aft most section of that tail-cone reinforcement angle and its replacement with an elongated splice body. The elongated splice body is attached to the remainder of the tail-cone reinforcement angle and to the tail-cone portion of the fuselage of the aircraft. The aft section of the original tail-cone reinforcement angle is subject to the development and propagation of cracks in the area of the rear pivot shaft receiving bore, which cracks render the aircraft unfit for use. The invention includes the provision of a suitable elongated splice body, a method for its installation, and a tool kit which is usable in accomplishing the removal and replacement of the aft section of the tail-cone reinforcement angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: QMI, INC.
    Inventor: William D. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20210070472
    Abstract: A tail-cone reinforcement angle of a Cessna 180-185 series aircraft is repaired by the removal of an aft most section of that tail-cone reinforcement angle and its replacement with an elongated splice body. The elongated splice body is attached to the remainder of the tail-cone reinforcement angle and to the tail-cone portion of the fuselage of the aircraft. The aft section of the original tail-cone reinforcement angle is subject to the development and propagation of cracks in the area of the rear pivot shaft receiving bore, which cracks render the aircraft unfit for use. The invention includes the provision of a suitable elongated splice body, a method for its installation, and a tool kit which is usable in accomplishing the removal and replacement of the aft section of the tail-cone reinforcement angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventor: William D. DUNCAN
  • Patent number: 10864999
    Abstract: A tail-cone reinforcement angle of a Cessna 180-185 series aircraft is repaired by the removal of an aft most section of that tail-cone reinforcement angle and its replacement with an elongated splice body. The elongated splice body is attached to the remainder of the tail-cone reinforcement angle and to the tail-cone portion of the fuselage of the aircraft. The aft section of the original tail-cone reinforcement angle is subject to the development and propagation of cracks in the area of the rear pivot shaft receiving bore, which cracks render the aircraft unfit for use. The invention includes the provision of a suitable elongated splice body, a method for its installation, and a tool kit which is usable in accomplishing the removal and replacement of the aft section of the tail-cone reinforcement angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: QMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Duncan
  • Patent number: 10469830
    Abstract: A system for detecting and responding to an intruding camera. The system includes an electronic media display device having a screen configured to display content, a sensor, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to obtain information from the sensor, analyze the information to determine a presence of a camera, and edit any displayed content in response to the presence of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, William D. Duncan, William Gates, Daniel A. Gerrity, Pablos Holman, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark. A. Malamud, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Keith D. Rosema, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10348948
    Abstract: A system for capturing an image of a user includes a mobile device for requesting capture of the image of the user and a camera. The mobile device further includes a communications device configured to broadcast a request, a user input device, and a processing circuit structured to instruct the communications device to broadcast the request in response to an input received via the user input device. The camera is configured to receive the broadcasted request, determine the location of the user, and capture an image of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Baym, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10301789
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a water storage material from a biomass input material using supercritical or subcritical fluid processing, the water storage material capable of absorbing a liquid and releasing the liquid. The apparatus utilizes supercritical fluid processing, subcritical fluid processing, charring, or a combination thereof. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the apparatus. The apparatus further including a processing station configured to hold the biomass input material, and to use the biomass input material for processing into the water storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Tony S. Pan, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190145877
    Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus includes a sensor configured to be selectively positionable within an interior head cavity of a helmet to acquire compliance data regarding a liner of the helmet and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K.Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20190124207
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: EDWARD S. BOYDEN, JESSE R. CHEATHAM, III, WILLIAM D. DUNCAN, BRAN FERREN, RODERICK A. HYDE, MURIEL Y. ISHIKAWA, JORDIN T. KARE, STEPHEN L. MALASKA, NATHAN P. MYHRVOLD, DAVID B. TUCKERMAN, LOWELL L. WOOD, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190108741
    Abstract: A sensing and warning system includes a sensor configured to generate data regarding at least one of a user or an object, a warning device configured to be positioned on the user, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive the data from the sensor, determine a command based on the data, and transmit the command to the warning device prior to an impact between the user and the object. The warning device is configured to implement the command to provide a warning to the user in an attempt to (i) prevent the impact or (ii) reduce a magnitude of the impact between the user and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Allen, Philip V. Bayly, David L. Brody, Alistair K. Chan, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, William D. Duncan, Richard G. Ellenbogen, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, Raul Radovitzky, Anthony V. Smith, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20190071179
    Abstract: A motor vehicle system includes a motor vehicle including an aircraft landing portion, and an actively propelled unmanned aircraft configured to be supported on the aircraft landing portion. The vehicle and aircraft are configured such that the vehicle can provide at least one of fuel and electrical energy to the aircraft while the aircraft is supported on the aircraft landing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Thomas Allan Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 10199793
    Abstract: A method of pumping an optical resonator includes directing light generated by a pumping light at the optical resonator, exciting a propagating surface state of the optical resonator at an interface of the optical resonator, and changing a propagating frequency of the light proximate the interface, where the changed frequency corresponds to a propagation frequency of the surface state. The optical resonator includes a photonic crystal and a material, where the interface is formed between the photonic crystal and the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan Kundtz, Ruopeng Liu, Bruce M. McWilliams, John B. Pendry, Daniel A. Roberts, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10184867
    Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus including a movable member, a sensor coupled to the movable member and configured to acquire compliance data regarding a liner disposed within a shell of a helmet through engagement of the sensor with the liner, and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 10165806
    Abstract: An airbag deployment system includes a helmet, a torso protection assembly, and an airbag assembly. The airbag assembly is coupled to one of the helmet and the torso protection assembly and includes an airbag, an inflation device configured to inflate the airbag, and a first coupling device. The first coupling device is configured to couple to a second coupling device provided on the other of the helmet and the torso protection assembly upon inflation of the airbag. The coupling resists relative movement between the helmet and the torso protection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 10171677
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventors: Edward S. Boyden, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, William D. Duncan, Bran Ferren, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10166466
    Abstract: An electronic game feedback system includes a wearable haptic feedback device and a processing circuit. The wearable haptic feedback device includes a plurality of haptic elements configured to provide haptic feedback to a user. The processing circuit is configured to provide a display to the user associated with an electronic game, the electronic game associated with a primary object and a distal secondary object; receive first positional data regarding the primary object; receive second data regarding the secondary object; and control operation of the wearable haptic feedback device to provide the feedback to the user based on the first positional data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Ehren J. Brav, Alistair K. Chan, William D. Duncan, Russell J. Hannigan, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, 3ric Johanson, Jordin T. Kare, Tony S. Pan, Michael A. Schneider, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20180328757
    Abstract: A system for informing a navigation system of a vehicle of a protrusion includes a sensor and a processing circuit. The sensor is configured to generate sensor data based on a position of cargo. The processing circuit is configured to determine a contour of the vehicle, detect protruding cargo extending outside the contour of the vehicle, where detecting the protruding cargo is based on the sensor data and the contour, and notify the navigation system of the vehicle of the protruding cargo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Hon Wah Chin, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare
  • Publication number: 20180319151
    Abstract: A system for providing a joint for connecting a first object and a second object includes a data acquisition device configured to acquire joint parameter data regarding the first object and the second object, and a controller coupled to the data acquisition device and configured to provide joint design data regarding a design of the joint based on the joint parameter data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Bran Ferren, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Elizabeth L. Schubert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 10112710
    Abstract: A motor vehicle system includes a motor vehicle including an aircraft landing portion, and an actively propelled unmanned aircraft configured to be supported on the aircraft landing portion. The vehicle and aircraft are configured such that the vehicle can provide at least one of fuel and electrical energy to the aircraft while the aircraft is supported on the aircraft landing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Thomas Allan Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10030991
    Abstract: A system for informing a navigation system of a vehicle of a protrusion includes a sensor and a processing circuit. The sensor is configured to generate sensor data based on a position of cargo. The processing circuit is configured to determine a contour of the vehicle, detect protruding cargo extending outside the contour of the vehicle, where detecting the protruding cargo is based on the sensor data and the contour, and notify the navigation system of the vehicle of the protruding cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Hon Wah Chin, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare
  • Patent number: 10022950
    Abstract: A system for providing a joint for connecting a first object and a second object includes a data acquisition device configured to acquire joint parameter data regarding the first object and the second object, and a controller coupled to the data acquisition device and configured to provide joint design data regarding a design of the joint based on the joint parameter data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Bran Ferren, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Elizabeth L. Schubert, Clarence T. Tegreene