Patents by Inventor William D. Ross

William D. Ross 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: 11662727
    Abstract: A wide-area motion imaging system provides 360° persistent surveillance with a camera array that is small, light-weight, and operates at low power. The camera array is mounted on a tethered drone, which can hover at heights of up to 400?, and includes small imagers fitted with lenses of different fixed focal lengths. The tether provides power, communication, and a data link from the camera array to a ground processing server that receives, processes and stores the imagery. The server also collects absolute and relative position data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) carried by the drone. The server uses this position data to correct the rolling shutter effect and to stabilize and georectify the final images, which can be stitched together and shown to a user live or in playback via a separate user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Cindy Y. Fang, William D. Ross, Lauren L. White, Joseph Bari, William Cason, Donald Johnson, Christopher Bowen, Kyle Bojanowski, Victoria Dye
  • Publication number: 20210101678
    Abstract: A wide-area motion imaging system provides 360° persistent surveillance with a camera array that is small, light-weight, and operates at low power. The camera array is mounted on a tethered drone, which can hover at heights of up to 400?, and includes small imagers fitted with lenses of different fixed focal lengths. The tether provides power, communication, and a data link from the camera array to a ground processing server that receives, processes and stores the imagery. The server also collects absolute and relative position data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) carried by the drone. The server uses this position data to correct the rolling shutter effect and to stabilize and georectify the final images, which can be stitched together and shown to a user live or in playback via a separate user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Cindy Y. FANG, William D. Ross, Lauren L. WHITE, Joseph Bari, William Cason, Donald Johnson, Christopher Bowen, Kyle Bojanowski, Victoria Dye
  • Patent number: 10630899
    Abstract: Security guards at big facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he will lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer 360-degree, 100-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other resolutions may also be employed.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20190238800
    Abstract: Security guards at large facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he may lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer up to 360-degree, 240-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other fields of view and resolutions are also possible.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard, Gary M. Long, JR., Lauren L. White, Svetlana V. Panasyuk, Mark Bury
  • Patent number: 10306186
    Abstract: Security guards at large facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he may lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer up to 360-degree, 240-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other fields of view and resolutions are also possible.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard, Gary M. Long, Jr., Lauren L. White, Svetlana V. Panasyuk, Mark Bury
  • Publication number: 20180007264
    Abstract: Security guards at big facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he will lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer 360-degree, 100-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other resolutions may also be employed.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel B. CHUANG, Lawrence M. CANDELL, William D. ROSS, Mark E. BEATTIE, Cindy Y. FANG, Bobby REN, Jonathan P. BLANCHARD
  • Patent number: 9749526
    Abstract: Security guards at big facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he will lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer 360-degree, 100-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other resolutions may also be employed.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20160014335
    Abstract: Security guards at big facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he will lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer 360-degree, 100-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other resolutions may also be employed.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20150271453
    Abstract: Security guards at large facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he may lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer up to 360-degree, 240-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other fields of view and resolutions are also possible.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard, Gary M. Long, JR., Lauren L. White, Svetlana V. Panasyuk, Mark Bury
  • Patent number: 9036001
    Abstract: Security guards at big facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he will lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer 360-degree, 100-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other resolutions may also be employed.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9007432
    Abstract: Security guards at large facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he may lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer up to 360-degree, 240-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other fields of view and resolutions are also possible.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard, Gary M. Long, Jr., Lauren L. White, Svetlana V. Panasyuk, Mark Bury
  • Publication number: 20120242788
    Abstract: Security guards at big facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he will lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer 360-degree, 100-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other resolutions may also be employed.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20120169842
    Abstract: Security guards at large facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he may lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer up to 360-degree, 240-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other fields of view and resolutions are also possible.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel B. Chuang, Lawrence M. Candell, William D. Ross, Mark E. Beattie, Cindy Y. Fang, Bobby Ren, Jonathan P. Blanchard, Gary M. Long, JR., Lauren L. White, Svetlana V. Panasyuk, Mark Bury
  • Patent number: 4526065
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control circuit having a hydrokinetic torque converter and planetary gearing in a torque delivery driveline wherein provision is made for interrupting the torque delivery and interrupting a driving connection between the engine and the gearing where the vehicle is operated at a speed less than a minimum value and the vehicle brakes are applied thereby improving exhaust emissions from the engine and improving fuel economy during idling and eliminating the tendency for the vehicle to creep when the vehicle is standing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Stanley D. Rosen, William D. Ross
  • Patent number: 4324758
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a used lubricating oil for iron wear metal content which comprises a series of containers, at least one of which is adapted for holding a test sample material while the remaining containers are adapted for holding 3 separate reagent sample materials. Also included are a reaction chamber, means for transferring the test sample material and the reagent materials from the series of containers to the reaction chamber which may also function as a test cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Kent J. Eisentraut, William D. Ross, William J. Hillan, Joseph J. Brooks, Thomas G. Duffy
  • Patent number: 4300416
    Abstract: A key blank impressioning tool has a pair of pivotally, interconnected parts for manipulation by the hands of the user. As one of the parts is grasped by one hand to apply torque to the key blank in the keyway of the lock to in turn tend to turn the plug of the lock, the second part of the tool is used by the other hand of the operator for the purpose of reciprocating a block so as to strike light blows of such nature as to create indentations in one edge of the blank to thereby identify the location and depth of the tumbler cuts to be made in the key blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: William D. Ross Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: William D. Ross
  • Patent number: 4238197
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a used lubricating oil for iron wear metal content in which all of the iron in a sample of the oil is extracted into an oil immiscible layer, buffering and reducing agents are added, and the iron in the solution is reacted with a chelating agent to forma red complex indicative of the iron content. Apparatus for carrying out the method comprises six containers, one for a lubricating oil sample and each of the other five being for a separate reagent. Also included are a reaction chamber, means for transferring oil sample and reagents from the containers to the reaction chamber which may also function as a test cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Kent J. Eisentraut, William D. Ross, William J. Hillan, Joseph J. Brooks, Thomas G. Duffy
  • Patent number: 3966411
    Abstract: The qualitative and quantitative analysis of nitrogen-containing compounds is accomplished by contacting in the presence of an acid a sample containing such a compound with an aromatic hydrocarbon, thereby converting the compound to a stable nitrogen-containing aromatic hydrocarbon. The sample now containing the nitrated aromatic hydrocarbon is then introduced in a carrier gas stream into a chromatographic column. The effluent stream from the column is passed through a gas chromatography detector, and the detector signal response obtained is compared with that produced by known amounts of a reference calibration sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Inventors: William D. Ross, Robert E. Sievers