Patents by Inventor Zachary Lawrence Brand

Zachary Lawrence Brand 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: 11586268
    Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling a sensing state of a device. For example, a controller of the device receives input data indicating a request to disable a sensor of the device. The controller determines that the sensor is not disabled and is to enter a mute state based on the input data. Accordingly, controller causes the sensor to be decoupled from a power source via a power switch, causes the sensor to be decoupled from a processor of the device via a data switch, and causes outputting of an indication of the mute state by a user interface of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Welch, Zachary Lawrence Brand
  • Publication number: 20220159215
    Abstract: Techniques for disabling a sensor are described. In an example, the techniques include receiving input data indicating a request to disable a sensor of the device. Based on the input data, the sensor is disabled by at least decoupling the sensor from a power source and decoupling the sensor from an input terminal of a processor of the device. The techniques also include sending, to a plurality of clients that are implemented on the device and that are configured to receive sensor data generated by the sensor, notification data indicating that the sensor is disabled. Further, the techniques include outputting, by a user interface of the device, an indication that the sensor is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Gerald A. Welch, Zachary Lawrence Brand, Amit Agrawal
  • Patent number: 11272141
    Abstract: Techniques for disabling a sensor are described. In an example, the techniques include receiving input data indicating a request to disable a sensor of the device. Based on the input data, the sensor is disabled by at least decoupling the sensor from a power source and decoupling the sensor from an input terminal of a processor of the device. The techniques also include sending, to a plurality of clients that are implemented on the device and that are configured to receive sensor data generated by the sensor, notification data indicating that the sensor is disabled. Further, the techniques include outputting, by a user interface of the device, an indication that the sensor is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Welch, Zachary Lawrence Brand, Amit Agrawal
  • Publication number: 20210325953
    Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling a sensing state of a device. For example, a controller of the device receives input data indicating a request to disable a sensor of the device. The controller determines that the sensor is not disabled and is to enter a mute state based on the input data. Accordingly, controller causes the sensor to be decoupled from a power source via a power switch, causes the sensor to be decoupled from a processor of the device via a data switch, and causes outputting of an indication of the mute state by a user interface of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Gerald A. Welch, Zachary Lawrence Brand
  • Publication number: 20210329198
    Abstract: Techniques for disabling a sensor are described. In an example, the techniques include receiving input data indicating a request to disable a sensor of the device. Based on the input data, the sensor is disabled by at least decoupling the sensor from a power source and decoupling the sensor from an input terminal of a processor of the device. The techniques also include sending, to a plurality of clients that are implemented on the device and that are configured to receive sensor data generated by the sensor, notification data indicating that the sensor is disabled. Further, the techniques include outputting, by a user interface of the device, an indication that the sensor is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Gerald A. Welch, Zachary Lawrence Brand, Amit Agrawal
  • Patent number: 10009554
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relate to a method for capturing video frames. The method includes obtaining a depth-data frame of an environment using a depth-sensing camera and an infrared illuminator, where the environment is illuminated by an illumination pattern emitted by the infrared illuminator, obtaining, an infrared illuminator parameterization for the illumination pattern emitted by the infrared illuminator, obtaining a desired frame exposure time, based on a desired frame exposure, determining, based on the infrared illuminator parameterization and the desired frame exposure time, an actual frame exposure time, and after determining the actual frame exposure time, obtaining a frame of the environment using the actual frame exposure time using the infrared illuminator with the illumination pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Lighthouse AI, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Miao, Daniel Yum, Zachary Lawrence Brand, Hendrik Dahlkamp
  • Patent number: 9740313
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring use of a tip of a stylus, determining an amount of wear of or life remaining in the tip, and notifying a user when to replace the tip are disclosed. The tip should be replaced to avoid an abrasive material of the tip from being exposed and contacting a touch screen or other surface of a computing device to avoid scratching or otherwise damaging the touch screen or other surface of the computing device. The computing device or the stylus device may perform one or more of the monitoring, determining, or prompting steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Sundara-Rajan, Zachary Lawrence Brand, Piotr Pawel Blaszczak, Ann Yuhui Yun, Timothy Michael Vanderet, Miguel Angel Morales
  • Patent number: 9459710
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for charging a power source/battery of a stylus device through a conductive tip of the stylus device are disclosed. Voltage may be input into the stylus device through the conductive tip and applied to a rechargeable battery. This may be accomplished using a charging component, such as, a charging station or dock, including a corresponding electrical contact that interacts with the conductive tip to charge the battery of the stylus device. In this aspect, the stylus device may be configured to recognize when the stylus device is in the charging component and configure itself into a tip charging mode to receive voltage and charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Lawrence Brand, Bela Incze
  • Patent number: 9244543
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring use of a tip of a stylus, determining an amount of wear of or life remaining in the tip, and notifying a user when to replace the tip are disclosed. The tip should be replaced to avoid an abrasive material of the tip from being exposed and contacting a touch screen or other surface of a computing device to avoid scratching or otherwise damaging the touch screen or other surface of the computing device. The computing device or the stylus device may perform one or more of the monitoring, determining, or prompting steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Sundara-Rajan, Zachary Lawrence Brand, Piotr Pawel Blaszczak, Ann Yuhui Yun, Timothy Michael Vanderet, Miguel Angel Morales