Stephen C Hines

US Patent:

6344846, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Aug 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/632950

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA 91204

International Classification:

G09G 508

US Classification:

345166, 345156, 359152, 359168, 359169

Abstract:

An optical retroreflective remote control used in combination with electronic apparatus, such as a VCR or television set is disclosed. The controlled apparatus includes a light or radiation source and a retroreflected light detector as well as means for detecting any modulation of the light emitted as a control signal for the electronic apparatus. The remote control includes a portable housing with a window for receiving light from the electronic apparatus and for retroreflecting modulated light return by the remote controller. Manual controls or push buttons on the housing operate to block or modulate certain portions, i. e. , wavelengths of the incident light enter in the window before the light reaches a retroreflector. Returned light or radiation from the controller as modified constitutes a control signal for the electronic apparatus. The remote control requires no power supplies or light or radiation sources.

US Patent:

6817716, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Sep 5, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/655974

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA 91204

International Classification:

G03B 2100

US Classification:

353 10, 353 7, 353 28, 359631

Abstract:

Apparatus for producing aerial-images is disclosed employing a combination of focusing reflectors, beamsplitter polarizing filters, and light sources. An object to be displayed is illuminated, and its image partially reflected by the beamsplitter to a focusing mirror and reflected to an aerial position. A polarizer prevents ambient light or images from degrading or interfering with the aerial-image. A clock radio, personal television display counter, as well as animated mannequin versions are disclosed.

US Patent:

7249552, Jul 31, 2007

Filed:

Dec 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/295387

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA, US

International Classification:

B27B 21/00
B27G 5/02

US Classification:

83761, 83454, 83581, 83745, 83821, 83824, 83829

Abstract:

A guide for use with a cutting member, such as hand saws, that is easy to use, is readily portable and can be adjusted to permit cutting of precise compound angles on work pieces of various configurations. The guide mechanism comprises two angularly related members arranged so that when one member engages the face of a work piece, the other member functions to glidably engage a cutting member, such as the blade of a hand saw with the teeth thereof in cutting relation with said face of the work piece. In one form of the invention, locking mechanisms are provided to lock the member in any selected angular relation and a magnet is carried by the guide member which uniquely functions to continuously urge the saw into engagement with a plurality of rollers that are also carried by the guide member.

US Patent:

7375621, May 20, 2008

Filed:

Jun 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/810236

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA, US

International Classification:

B60Q 1/00

US Classification:

340435, 3409322, 359436

Abstract:

A distance indicating apparatus and method determine the distance between a fixed object and a moving object (such as a motor vehicle, airplane or water vessel) by using two spaced-apart projectors to project a distance indicating scale (which can include non-linear markings) and an index along two different paths onto a projection target surface where they are visible to create a visual distance indication that varies as the fixed and moving objects vary in distance less than a certain distance.

US Patent:

7460777, Dec 2, 2008

Filed:

Jul 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/825559

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA, US

International Classification:

G03B 7/00
G03B 29/00
G03B 11/00
H04N 7/00
G02B 13/06

US Classification:

396 71, 396433, 396544, 348 36, 359725

Abstract:

A reflective tube centered on a lens of a camera is used in covert wide-angle photography in which and at least one reflected annular image is rotated by 180 to register it with the open-hole (zero-order) image to obtain a wide-angle corrected image. Any exposure differences in reflected images are balanced (or matched to the zero-order image) and rotation of odd-order image(s) is done by dedicated electronics of the camera or a later computer program to align such images with the zero-order image while the photograph is taken of an object using a tube which is no longer than approximately 1/100the distance of the photographic subject. The reflective tube can be a transparent material (such as Plexiglas) whose outer surface is painted black to block stray light which would otherwise be transmitted by walls of the tube and to absorb second-surface reflections from inside.

US Patent:

7682639, Mar 23, 2010

Filed:

Sep 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/904174

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA, US

International Classification:

A23L 2/00

US Classification:

426 66, 383 25, 383 30, 312 3101, 62315

Abstract:

A sealed, double walled water packet has an inner packet filled with potable water that has a porous outer surface layer containing absorbed water and an outer packet that encloses the inner packet and is connected to the inner layer. The inner packet (which may contain as little as a swallow of water) is connected to the outer packet (both of which can be made as envelopes with tearable sections or peel off corners) along one side or by a string so that the inner packet can be twirled or waved to cause rapid evaporation of water in the porous outer surface layer (which can include hydrogel) to thereby cool the potable water contained inside the inner packet before it is opened.

US Patent:

7799987, Sep 21, 2010

Filed:

Jul 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/881857

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA, US

International Classification:

H02N 6/00
H01L 31/00
F24J 2/38

US Classification:

136246, 136243, 2502034, 126600

Abstract:

A solar tracker has a mounting surface to which a solar device is mounted and means for causing the mounting surface to change its orientation so as to be substantially perpendicular to the sun's rays as the sun travels through a useful arc relative to the solar tracker wherein change of orientation of the mounting surface is caused by bending of the solar tracker attributable. The bending can be caused by mechanical contraction or due to shrinkage caused by loss of water in which case capillary action causes the outer surface material to be saturated and grow when it is not exposed to sunlight. The bendable mounting surface support is an elongated tube held in a nominally vertical position in the absence of sunlight by a vertical support which can be a coiled compression spring, an extruded tube of closed-end structural foam, a vertical floating pole or an air-inflated tube.

US Patent:

7827712, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Apr 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/150534

Inventors:

Stephen P. Hines - Glendale CA, US

International Classification:

G09F 19/14

US Classification:

40453, 40442, 40564, 352100

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources which are then reflected to obtain a shallow light box depth relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer.