Controlled By Article, Person, Or Animal Patents (Class 250/221)
  • Patent number: 10665043
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method utilize a micro electronic device implanted in a person or group of persons, or wearable thereby, to manage a variety of activities, including checking out a product or service from a market, such as a micro-market. The method includes the steps of providing a RF microdevice having an electronic identification code and attaching the microdevice to the user. A checkout system is provided including an RF reader and a processor. The user brings the microdevice near the reader, whereby the reader communicates with the microdevice via RF signals, and the RF reader signals the processor to corroborate the identification code. If the processor corroborates the identification code, the processor signals that a successful product or service checkout has occurred. If the processor does not corroborate the identification code, a checkout is not confirmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: T.W. Vending, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Westby, Eric Bloms, Sam Bengston, Patrick McMullan
  • Patent number: 10665019
    Abstract: A method for use with a head-mounted display in a physical environment includes obtaining depth information of the physical environment and capturing a visual image of the physical environment. The method also includes determining a spatial relationship between a user of the head-mounted display and one or more physical objects included in the physical environment based on the depth information. The visual image is then segmented based on the spatial relationship to generate a segmented image that includes the one or more physical objects. The segmented image is then overlaid on a virtual image to display both the virtual image and the one or more physical objects on the head-mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Evan Robert Hildreth, Francis Bernard MacDougall
  • Patent number: 10663778
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display and a display device. A plurality of photosensitive detectors is arranged in the frame region of the liquid crystal display panel. Light intensity distribution in the display region is estimated by a light intensity estimation module based on the light intensity detected by each photosensitive detector. Light intensity in a position corresponding to each light emitting pixel of the backlight source is determined based on the light intensity distribution in the display region estimated by the light intensity estimation module. Depending on the determined light intensity in a position corresponding to each light emitting pixel of the backlight source, luminance of the light emitting pixel in this corresponding position is controlled by a backlight driving circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chengqi Zhou, Hong Wang, Yifang Chu, Chulgyu Jung, Shou Li
  • Patent number: 10665044
    Abstract: A system and apparatus utilize a micro electronic device implanted in a person or group of persons, or wearable thereby, to manage a variety of activities, including gaining electronic access to an electronic lock, an electronic checkout kiosk at a store, a personal computer, a computer network, a vehicle lock or ignition, or a medical records database. The system includes an RF microdevice having an electronic identification code and attaching the microdevice to the user, an RF login system including an RF reader and a login processor. The user brings the microdevice near the reader, whereby the RF reader communicates with the microdevice via RF signals, and the RF reader signals the iogin processor to corroborate the identification code. If the processor does not corroborate the identification code, a login is not confirmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: T.W. Vending, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Westby, Eric Bloms, Sam Bengston, Patrick McMullan
  • Patent number: 10665045
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method utilize a micro electronic device implanted in a person or group of persons, or wearable thereby, to manage a variety of activities. The micro electronic devices is communicatively connected to a mobile device and the micro electronic devices utilize features of the mobile device such as user interface services, programming services, data processing and storage services, telecommunication services, location services, sensor/transducer services, camera services, clock services, and/or temperature, weather and other services. This also enables tracking, monitoring, inventorying, and management of people and things for medical, legal, business, governmental and various other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: T.W. Vending, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Westby, Eric Bloms, Sam Bengston, Patrick McMullan
  • Patent number: 10649193
    Abstract: A detector device is designed to capture light and to generate electrical signals. The detector device includes a housing and a detector disposed in the housing so as to be moveable at least partially in the housing and with respect to the housing. The detector device is useable in a detection system and/or in a microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Patric Mrawek, Frank Schreiber, Roland Seifert
  • Patent number: 10643741
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed hosting multiple visual assessments, evaluating user performance on the assessments, and providing recommendations to assess and improve user visual performance. One method includes hosting a plurality of visual assessments; presenting, via a web portal, a user interface for selecting one or more visual assessments of the hosted plurality of visual assessments; receiving, via a web portal, a request for a user to access a visual assessment, wherein the visual assessment is an assessment out of the hosted plurality of assessments; administering the visual assessment to the user; receiving user performance data associated with a user, in response to the administered visual assessment; comparing the user performance data with performance data associated with one or more other users; and generating a report of user visual performance based on the user performance data, wherein the report is accessible to the user via the web portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: RightEye, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Todd Gross, Melissa Hunfalvay
  • Patent number: 10635195
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling displayed content utilizing stylus rotation are disclosed. In embodiments, a method comprises: displaying, by a computing device, a first portion of user selected content; detecting, by the computing device, rotation of a stylus; and displaying, by the computing device, a second portion of the user selected content based on the rotation of the stylus and user access rules, wherein the second portion comprises more or less content than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Martin G. Keen, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 10635190
    Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) cursor maneuvering system for use by a computer or electro-mechanical system requiring 3D control, includes a tinted 2D planar or locally planar reference surface and a color sensitive mobile device that moves along the tinted reference surface and generates high sensitivity and high resolution absolute positional and motional data by accurately determining variations in the tint. Color index data (e.g. CIE 1931 RGB, etc.) on the tinted reference plane varies from place to place and methods are disclosed for imprinting the reference plane with that data in the form of dyes and pigments that may be reflective, refractive or emissive. When the mobile device moves on or over the reference surface, it captures a series of images whose data (e.g. CIE 1931 RGB) varies in correspondence with the movement of the device. The color index data measured by the mobile device can be mathematically converted into 3D positional and motional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Wen-Chieh Geoffrey Lee
  • Patent number: 10627973
    Abstract: Several systems for tracking one or more radiation blocking objects on a surface are disclosed. A pair of radiation sensors are provided adjacent the surface and a plurality of radiation sources are provided adjacent the surface. Radiation from at least some of the radiation sources travels across the surface to reach each of the radiation sensors. One or more radiation blocking objects on the surface attenuate radiation from one or more radiation sources from reaching each of the sensors. The position of the one or more radiation blocking objects is estimates and may be tracked based on the position of the one or more attenuated radiation sources relative to each radiation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Baanto International Ltd.
    Inventors: Avanindra Utukuri, Jonathan Clarke, Allen Rego
  • Patent number: 10630853
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to an edge sensing apparatus. For example, an edge sensing apparatus consistent to the present disclosure may include a reflector in a beam path of a retroreflective sensor. The edge sensing apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may include a cover glass located between the retroreflective sensor and the reflector. The edge sensing apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may include a media feeder to feed a media along a media path between the cover glass and the retroreflective sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan M Smith, Arthur H Barnes, Eric Andersen
  • Patent number: 10621579
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authorizing a blockchain transaction. A verification network receives a transaction request for the blockchain transaction from a payer device including a first signature generated by a first private key associated with a payer. The verification network broadcasts a verification request to verification system(s) which assess pre-agreed threshold parameters. If the parameter(s) are satisfied, at least one verification system perfects the transaction by generating a second signature using a second private key, and broadcasts the transaction to the blockchain network. If the parameter(s) are not satisfied, verification offer(s) from among the verification system(s) including the second signature(s) are used to prompt the payer device to confirm the blockchain transaction by selecting at least one of the offer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Perullo
  • Patent number: 10623170
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a complex synthetic system and method, which original input from a plurality of independent non-orthogonal frequency signals with a frequency band not greater than any respective central frequency f0 allows to develop a resulting complex signal with a limited frequency band always not greater than f0, instead of band sum of the respective non-orthogonal independent bands. The resulting complex signal is the linear combination of a plurality of complex orthogonal signals with a limited frequency band less than f0, and each is in bijection with the independent non-orthogonal starting signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventors: Francesco Romano, Valerio Romano
  • Patent number: 10623895
    Abstract: A position detector of a mover relative to a stator includes: an output unit outputting displacement signals including a first signal in a first period and a second signal in a period longer than the first period, while switching among the displacement signals, according to a change in the position of the mover; and a deriver that derives an absolute position as the position of the mover based on the displacement signals, and derives a relative position as a displacement amount with respect to a predetermined absolute position of the mover, wherein in deriving the absolute position, the signal output unit outputs the first signal, the second signals, and the first signal in this order, and the deriver derives the absolute position based on the displacement signals, in deriving the relative position, the position deriver derives the relative position based on the first signal and the second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 10620337
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a photoelectric sensor system with a primary photo-detector to receive an on-axis return reflected by a retro-reflective target, and a monitor photo-detector to detect off-axis light indicative of a diffuse reflective object blocking the optical path between an emitter and the retro-reflective target. In an illustrative example, the optical path may include a coaxial transceiver module that includes a beam splitter mirror to redirect the optical path. In some embodiments, a bifurcated lens may provide, for example, a lateral offset of the emitter axis through one lens, and the return axis through an adjacent parallel lens. The second photo-detector may provide, for example, an array of one or more detection surfaces to detect off-axis light associated with a diffuse reflective object, such as a white card, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Banner Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Lindmark, Paul D. Bratton, Dennis John Smith, Neal A. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10613640
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices with input devices. An input device may include a button or a key of a keyboard that uses a light sensor to detect key press events. The light sensor may detect changes in an amount of received light caused by actuation of a keycap of the button or key. The button or key may include an opaque structure that blocks a portion of the light when the key is compressed. The button or key may include a light source such as a light-emitting diode that generates light. A portion of the light from the light source may illuminate the key or button to provide backlight for the key and another portion may be received by the light sensor for detecting partial or complete compression of the button or key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Daniel J. Drusch, Chang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10604983
    Abstract: An opening/closing body drive device includes a drive mechanism that moves an opening/closing body between an opening position and a closing position relative to a frame portion having an opening, a control unit for controlling the drive mechanism, a light source unit including a light emitting element emitting a non-visible light and radiating the non-visible light to a detection line formed of a retroreflective material along at least a part of the frame portion, and a camera including an incident lens into which the non-visible light radiated from the light source unit and reflected by the detection line enters. At least of a part of the light source unit is arranged in front of the incident lens when the incident lens is viewed along an optical axis thereof from a side of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Mayu Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Kondo, Hideaki Kashiwagi, Masakane Yoshizawa, Sadaji Umehara, Yasuhiro Saito, Hideaki Takehara, Hiroyuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10602953
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, at least four EOG electrodes are provided with the periphery of user's eyes. The left eye side electrodes and the right eye side electrodes are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical line passing the middle of a line connecting the centers of both eyes. Two electrodes above and two electrodes below the line connecting the centers of both eyes are arranged to avoid area AXL including an inflection point where an EOG detection polarity differs in the right and left of a vertical line passing the center of the left eye and area AXR including an inflection point where an EOG detection polarity differs in the right and left of a vertical line passing the center of the right eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroaki Komaki
  • Patent number: 10599237
    Abstract: An input device includes a housing, a wheel, a mode switch, a carrier, and an abutting assembly. The wheel is rotatably disposed on the housing and capable of rotating relative to the housing based on an axis. The wheel has a first gear structure and a second gear structure. The mode switch is disposed on the housing. The carrier is movably disposed on the housing and engaged with the mode switch. The abutting assembly is disposed on the carrier. While moving to a first position relative to the housing, the carrier switches the mode switch to a first mode and makes the abutting assembly contact the first gear structure. While moving to a second position relative to the housing, the carrier switches the mode switch to a second mode and makes the abutting assembly contact the second gear structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Sheng Liu, Ho-Chin Tsai
  • Patent number: 10598505
    Abstract: A travel route generation apparatus includes a work field data input interface, a handwriting input interface, a memory, and circuitry. Work field data are to be input via the work field data input interface. The work field data includes data regarding a shape of a work field in which a work vehicle is to work. A handwriting locus is to be input via the handwriting input interface. The memory is to store travel route patterns. The circuitry is configured to select a designated travel route pattern from travel route patterns based on the handwriting locus and to generate, based on the designated travel route pattern and the work field data, a travel route along which the work vehicle is to travel in the work field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakaguchi, Megumi Suzukawa, Sakura Tomita, Yuji Okuyama
  • Patent number: 10598365
    Abstract: A lamp that includes a lens, an electrode, and a sensing circuit connected to a light source. The lens is spaced apart from the sensing circuit. The forward facing surface of the lens has a sensing location. The electrode has a first portion opposite a second portion. The first portion is connected to the sensing circuit. The second portion is positioned alongside a backward facing surface of the lens. The electrode senses an electric field through the lens at the sensing location. The sensing circuit is configured to turn on the light source when the light source is turned off and the electrode senses the electric field. The sensing circuit is configured to turn off the light source when the light source is turned on and the electrode senses the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: GRAKON, LLC
    Inventors: Paul J. Jensen, Steven P. Freeder
  • Patent number: 10593029
    Abstract: A system, comprising a processor; and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to acquire a first image of a scene, acquire a second image of the scene while illuminating the scene, identify pixel blooming in a subtracted image determined by subtracting the first image from the second image, remediating the pixel blooming based on empirically determined parameters, and operate a vehicle based on the subtracted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhen Zhao, Codrin Cionca, Guoyu Lu, Mostafa Parchami, Jeffrey Thomas Remillard
  • Patent number: 10591633
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies for optical environmental filtering with intrusion protection are provided. In an embodiment, a system can include a first intrusion detection frame structure, a second intrusion detection frame structure, a controller unit, and a laser filter frame structure that is disposed between the first intrusion detection frame structure and the second intrusion detection frame structure. The laser filter frame structure can include at least one laser emitter that projects at least one laser beam that forms a laser emission plane between the first light intrusion plane and the second light intrusion plane. The controller unit can activate at least one laser emitter, and in response to detecting an object passing through the first light intrusion plane, deactivate a laser emitter to pause creation of the laser emission plane. The controller can reactivate a laser emitter before the object passes through the second light intrusion plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett Kreiner, Jonathan Reeves, Ryan Schaub
  • Patent number: 10591756
    Abstract: A contact image sensor having a waveguiding structure for propagating light in a first direction including, in series, a first clad medium, a first core, a switchable grating clad, a second core, and a second clad medium sandwiched by transparent substrates, patterned parallel electrode elements orthogonally traversing the waveguides, a light source, a platen and a detector. Switchable grating regions overlapped by a first voltage-addressed electrode element diffract TIR light from the first core towards the platen. Switchable grating region overlapped by a second voltage-addressed electrode element diffract TIR light reflected from the platen into a TIR path within the second core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DigiLens Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern, Alastair John Grant
  • Patent number: 10591352
    Abstract: A technique and apparatus for monitoring a plant canopy over a field is disclosed. The technique includes receiving first sensor values from a plurality of plant canopy sensors disposed in or on a ground of the field under the plant canopy. The first sensor values are indicative of near-infrared (IR) light reflected or reradiated from the plant canopy. Second sensor values are also received from the plant canopy sensors. The second sensor values are indicative of red light that is incident through the plant canopy. A map of the plant canopy may be generated based upon the first and second sensor values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Benoit Schillings, Elliott Grant
  • Patent number: 10591990
    Abstract: A gaze tracking system, leaving a low power mode in response to an activation signal, initial burst of eye pictures in short time by restricting the image area of a sensor, purpose of enabling an increased frame rate. Subsequent eye pictures are captured at le rate. The first gaze point value is computed memorylessly based on the initial burst res and no additional imagery, while subsequent values may be computed recursively to account previous gaze point values or information from previous eye pictures. The restriction of the image area may be guided by a preliminary overview picture captured using the different sensor. From the gaze point values, the system may derive a control signal to a computer device with a visual display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Tobii AB
    Inventors: Mårten Skogö, Anders Olsson, John Mikael Elvesjö, Aron Yu
  • Patent number: 10591585
    Abstract: An electronic control unit for radar sensors, in particular for driver assistance systems in motor vehicles, including an integrated component for generating and processing high-frequency signals, and a controller for controlling functions of this component, including monitoring functions for monitoring the operability of the radar sensor, characterized by an error injector integrated into the component for generating defined error conditions for a functional test of the monitoring functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Steinbuch, Matthias Steinhauer, Michael Ott
  • Patent number: 10586555
    Abstract: Architectures and techniques to visually indicate an operational state of an electronic device. In some instances, the electronic device comprises a voice-controlled device configured to interact with a user through voice input and visual output. The voice-controlled device may be positioned in a home environment, such as on a table in a room of the environment. The user may interact with the voice-controlled device through speech and the voice-controlled device may perform operations requested by the speech. As the voice-controlled device enters different operational states while interacting with the user, one or more lights of the voice-controlled device may be illuminated to indicate the different operational states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Blanksteen, Gregory M. Hart, Charles S. Rogers, III, Heinz-Dominik Langhammer, Ronald Edward Webber
  • Patent number: 10578482
    Abstract: A proximity sensing device includes: a light source, a sensing unit, a light guide unit, and a window. The light source emits light, which is guided by the light guide unit to the window. The emitted light reflected by an object is received by the same window. The light guide unit includes a partial-transmissive-partial-reflective (PTPR) optical element, whereby the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the PTPR optical element, while the light reflected by the object passes through the PTPR optical element. There is only one window required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATION
    Inventors: Hui-Hsuan Chen, Nien-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 10572042
    Abstract: An in cell touch panel, a driving method thereof and a display device are disclosed. The in cell touch panel includes a substrate, an organic light emitting structure on the substrate, and a package protection layer coating said organic light emitting structure. The in cell touch panel further includes a touch electrode structure disposed between the substrate and the package protection layer and coated by the package protection layer; and a connecting terminal disposed on the substrate and coated by the package protection layer. The connecting terminal is electrically connected to a touch electrode in the touch electrode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changfeng Li, Xue Dong, Haisheng Wang, Chunwei Wu, Yingming Liu, Rui Xu, Pengpeng Wang, Wei Liu, Lijun Zhao, Yanan Jia, Yanling Han, Yuzhen Guo
  • Patent number: 10565879
    Abstract: A system for recognizing an occupancy status of, in particular unmarked, parking facilities is provided, which system includes: a) a plurality of occupancy sensors that are disposed, at a specific distance from one another, on or above an area to be detected; b) a central monitoring unit on which a virtual image of the area to be detected is stored and which is embodied to communicate with the occupancy sensors and to receive sensor data or information regarding the occupancy status at the location or in the vicinity of the respective sensor, the positions of the individual occupancy sensors being known to the central monitoring unit, and the central monitoring unit being embodied to create a virtual image of the occupancy status of the area to be detected and to recognize vacant and occupied sub-areas as a function of the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Nils Larcher, Martin Werner
  • Patent number: 10556585
    Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser emitter configured to emit a laser pulse in a sample direction of a sample area of a scene. A sensor element of the LIDAR system is configured to sense a return pulse, which is a reflection from the sample area corresponding to the emitted laser pulse. The LIDAR system may compare a width of the emitted laser pulse to a width of the return pulse in the time-domain. The comparison of the width of the emitted pulse to the width of the return pulse may be used to determine an orientation or surface normal of the sample area relative to the sample direction. Such a comparison leads to a measurement of the change of pulse width, referred to as pulse broadening or pulse stretching, from the emitted pulse to the return pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Panosense Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Berger, Ryan McMichael, Bertrand Robert Douillard
  • Patent number: 10557964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical module for an optical unit, said method comprising: Arranging a tubular body including a casing manufactured in stainless steel, said casing defining an internal surface, a longitudinal axis (X), and a thickness (T), the cross-section of which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; Reducing a first thickness of a first section of said casing in a uniform manner for a segment of length (L) along a longitudinal axis (X) of said casing up to a first predetermined thickness (T1) by means of wire-cut electrical discharge machining; Inserting a support holding an electromagnetic radiation emitter and/or a receiver in said casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DATALOGIC IP TECH S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca Rossetti, Alberto Filippini, Paolo Aprile
  • Patent number: 10545528
    Abstract: A joystick has a related control method to provide displayed object control function. The joystick includes a body, an image sensor and a processor. The body has a deformable bottom surface whereon a pattern is disposed. The image sensor is disposed under the body and adapted to capture a plurality of frames about the pattern. The processor is electrically connected with the image sensor and adapted to generate a displayed object control signal according to pattern variation within the plurality of frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Chung Wang, Hsin-Chia Chen, Hui-Hsuan Chen, Chao-Chien Huang, Chu-Hung Nien
  • Patent number: 10542607
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor includes a housing and one or more sensing elements. The occupancy sensor also includes one or more wireless radios. In addition, the occupancy sensor can include an interface element configured to control activation or deactivation of the one or more wireless radios upon interaction with the interface element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Lane Bailey, Tim Willis, Pritam Yadav
  • Patent number: 10539709
    Abstract: A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor includes a sensor unit configured to detect whether each of plural optical axes formed between a projection unit and a light receiving unit is in a light shielding state, the sensor unit including the projection unit and the light receiving unit, the projection unit including plural projection elements, the light receiving unit including plural light receiving elements disposed opposite the plural projection elements. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor also includes a control unit that controls the light receiving unit, communication cables of plural signal wirings through which a signal is input to and output from the control unit, and a communicator that conducts communication between the control unit and an external device through a common wiring sharing one of the communication cables with a communication wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Tobe, Keisaku Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10534479
    Abstract: A proximity sensor, including a housing, an array of lenses mounted in the housing, an array of alternating light emitters and light detectors mounted in the housing, each detector being positioned along the image plane of a respective one of the lenses so as to receive maximum light intensity when light enters the lens at a particular angle, an activating unit mounted in the housing and connected to the emitters and detectors, synchronously co-activating each emitter with at least one of the detectors, each activated emitter projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, and a processor receiving outputs from the detectors corresponding to amounts of projected light reflected by an object in the detection plane to the detectors, and calculating a two-dimensional location of the object in the detection plane based on the detector outputs and the particular angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Neonode Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Johannes Holmgren, Sairam Iyer, Tom Richard Berglind, Karl Erik Patrik Nordström, Lars Bertil Sparf, Per Carl Sture Rosengren, Erik Anders Claes Rosengren, John Elis Gösta Karlsson, Björn Thomas Eriksson, Björn Alexander Jubner, Remo Behdasht, Simon Greger Fellin, Robin Kjell Åman, Joseph Shain
  • Patent number: 10527417
    Abstract: A high-definition map system receives sensor data from vehicles travelling along routes and combines the data to generate a high definition map for use in driving vehicles, for example, for guiding autonomous vehicles. A pose graph is built from the collected data, each pose representing location and orientation of a vehicle. The pose graph is optimized to minimize constraints between poses. Points associated with surface are assigned a confidence measure determined using a measure of hardness/softness of the surface. A machine-learning-based result filter detects bad alignment results and prevents them from being entered in the subsequent global pose optimization. The alignment framework is parallelizable for execution using a parallel/distributed architecture. Alignment hot spots are detected for further verification and improvement. The system supports incremental updates, thereby allowing refinements of subgraphs for incrementally improving the high-definition map for keeping it up to date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: DeepMap, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Greg Coombe
  • Patent number: 10529313
    Abstract: Trigger devices, systems, and methods for sensing a strike on a vibratory membrane. A trigger device includes an optical sensor positioned a distance from the vibratory membrane and a processing device. The optical sensor includes an emitter that emits modulated light towards the vibratory membrane and a receiver that receives the modulated light that has reflected off the vibratory membrane and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the received modulated light. The electrical signal includes a peak corresponding to a detected strike on the vibratory membrane. The processing device isolates the peak from the electrical signal and generates one or more of a signal and data corresponding to the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Union and Company
    Inventors: Joshua Fifelski, Jeremy Domonkos
  • Patent number: 10523202
    Abstract: A user interface device including a floating actuator sub-assembly and a base assembly flexibly coupled to the floating actuator assembly is disclosed. The floating actuator assembly may include a magnet array assembly with a plurality of magnets fixed relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Austin Rutledge, Loni M. Heyenbruch, Alexander L. Warren, Michael E. Turgeon, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin
  • Patent number: 10509105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radar device and a frequency interference cancellation method thereof, and arranges a configuration comprising: an antenna unit for transmitting a radar transmission signal to a periphery and receiving a signal reflected from a target; an RF unit for generating the transmission signal, converting frequencies of a transmission signal and a reception signal, and amplifying a reception signal; a signal processing unit for generating a control signal to generate the transmission signal and cancelling frequency interference from a reception signal of the RF unit; and a control unit for generating radar detection information by using an output signal of the signal processing unit, and tracking information by accumulating the radar detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Digital Edge Inc.
    Inventors: Hee Jin Yang, Soo Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10495531
    Abstract: Disclosed is a force sensor, including: at least one measurement cell, each measurement cell being filled with a filling material in which at least one inclusion of a substance is embedded; for each cell, at least one light source arranged in order to illuminate the inclusion embedded in this cell; for each cell, a measurement system including at least one optical measurement point arranged in order to capture light originating from the inclusion embedded in this cell; for each cell, a unit arranged in order to convert optical signals originating from the measurement system of this cell to a signal representative of a force exerted on this cell, this signal being dependent on a movement of the inclusion embedded within the filling material of this cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: MUSEUM NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, SORBONNE UNIVERSITE, UNIVERSITE PARIS DIDEROT-PARIS 7
    Inventors: Séverine Toussaint, Artémis Llamosi
  • Patent number: 10487559
    Abstract: An opening/closing body drive device includes a drive mechanism that moves an opening/closing body between an opening position and a closing position relative to a frame portion having an opening, a control unit for controlling the drive mechanism, a light source unit including a light emitting element emitting a non-visible light and radiating the non-visible light to a detection line formed of a retroreflective material along at least a part of the frame portion, and a camera including an incident lens into which the non-visible light radiated from the light source unit and reflected by the detection line enters. The incident lens is formed non-circular by cutting off an end of the incident lens when viewed in an optical axis direction thereof, and at least a part of the light source unit is arranged in a region where the end is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mayu Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Kondo, Hideaki Kashiwagi, Masakane Yoshizawa, Sadaji Umehara, Yasuhiro Saito, Hideaki Takehara, Hiroyuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10480964
    Abstract: An optical navigation device has a light-emitting unit, an optical navigation chip and a cover. The light-emitting unit provides a light to a surface of a displacement generating unit. The optical navigation chip has a sensing array, but excludes any optical lens for focusing a reflected light. The sensing array disposed opposite to the surface of the displacement generating unit receives the reflected light which the light provided by the light-emitting unit is reflected from the surface of the displacement generating unit. The cover has a first surface and a second surface, and an angle is formed between the cover and the optical navigation chip, to prevent another reflected light from the surface of the first surface of the cover from entering the sensing array. Particularly, the angle formed between the cover and the optical navigation chip is from 10 degrees to 15 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventor: Ching-Lin Chung
  • Patent number: 10482859
    Abstract: The inventions relate to the field of electric musical instruments, more particularly, to an optical sensor for a stringed musical instrument with a digital interface and to a stringed musical instrument with a digital interface equipped with said sensor (MIDI—Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Implementation of the disclosed inventions allows to obtain a signal corresponding to vibrations (deflections) of a string in two mutually perpendicular planes, with the influence of the device generating such signals on string vibration parameters being reduced, without signals generated by different strings being mixed and with dimensions of the optical sensor being reduced to allow for its compact placement on a stringed musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: JAMMY INSTRUMENTS LTD.
    Inventors: Mykhailo Horban, Dmytro Doroshenko, Serhii Nastiuk, Leonid Novichkov, Volodymyr Shelest
  • Patent number: 10481262
    Abstract: An optical sensor measures displacement of a haptic plate that provides haptic sensation to a user. The optical sensor comprises a light source, a plurality of optical detectors, and a controller. The light source is configured to illuminate a surface of the haptic plate in which a haptic wave propagates causing displacement of portions of the haptic plate in one or more directions. The plurality of optical detectors is configured to detect light reflected from the surface of the haptic plate. At least two optical detectors of the plurality of optical detectors are positioned relative to the light source such that an amount of light received at each of the optical detectors is based at least in part on a direction of displacement of the haptic plate. The controller is configured to monitor the haptic wave using the detected light from the plurality of optical detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Riccardo DeSalvo, Ian Andreas Marquez, Jeff Jakkit Ongnok
  • Patent number: 10474111
    Abstract: Apparatus for an alarm clock with one or more alarms that are challenging to deactivate are provided. The alarm clock is fixedly attached to a wall or other surface, and contains a power source such that the alarm cannot be deactivated by unplugging the alarm clock or by easily removing batteries. The alarm(s) may be programmed to activate for a first length of time. To deactivate the alarm, a user must take some action to interact with the alarm clock, for a second length of time, which second length of time is sufficient for the user to become fully awake. Aspects of the alarm clock may be digital or analog, may have manual or electronic or remote controls, may have one or more alarms of different types, and may require different types of user interaction with alarm deactivation components in order to deactivate the one or more alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Andrew Larkin
  • Patent number: 10477355
    Abstract: A surface within a facility, such as a floor, is equipped with electromagnetic sensors that generate data indicative of the presence of objects, such as the feet of users, at or close to the floor. The data may also be indicative of cross-coupling resulting from a transfer of an electromagnetic signal by the object, such as from one foot to another of a user. The data is processed to determine presence of individual object representations, such as representing a foot. Information about object representations such as their movement, cross-coupling, physical distance between, or features of the object representation may be determined. This data may be used to maintain the identity of particular object representations, track object representations over time, determine that particular object representations are associated with a single user and so forth. Adjacent object representations may avoid merging by using a top-down cross sectioning technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Somasundaram Niranjayan, Patrick Ian McCleary, Matthew Gregory Bowen, Nikolai Orlov, James Stephanick
  • Patent number: 10472873
    Abstract: The present invention provides a door closer control system that includes a door closer having a rack and pinion mechanism connected to a pair of shafts with different length and a pair of springs. The shorter shaft is attached to the pinion of the door closer and will rotate in conjunction with the pinion as the door opens or closes. The shafts have correspondent gears connected to the shafts. The rotation of the first gear will be meshing with the second gear on the second shaft. Electronic sensors are placed on both sides of the door to detect a presence of an object and are activated by the movement of the solenoids. The movement of the solenoids cause a set of springs in the system to engage and disengage from a link to allow free motion of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventors: Riaz Ladha, Faisal Ladha
  • Patent number: 10459113
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to activating a blanking programming mode, such as fixed blanking (FB) or floating blanking (FLB), for example, for at least one user-selectable light curtain segment proximally connected to a distal-most segment in a string of cascaded light curtain segments. In an illustrative example, the selective activation may be initiated in response to a request signal from a remote request generator. The remote request generator may, in some examples, communicate the request signal to initiate the programming mode via a wireless communication link. In some embodiments, a request interface module may receive the request signal while releasably plugged into a terminal end of the distal-most segment. In various implementations, the remote selective activation may advantageously empower operators to rapidly configure cascaded light curtain systems that require programming modes for functions such as, for example, FB, FLB, or reduced resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Banner Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Gelineau, Charles Lee Osborn, Michael Shawn Bechtold