Patents Examined by Jorge O. Peche
  • Patent number: 10949940
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to mobile correctional facility robots and systems and methods for coordinating mobile correctional facility robots to perform various tasks in a correctional facility. The mobile correctional facility robots can be used to perform many of the tasks traditionally assigned to correctional facility guards to help reduce the number of guards needed in any given correctional facility. When cooperation is employed among multiple mobile correctional facility robots to execute tasks, a central controller can be used to coordinate the efforts of the multiple robots to improve the performance of the overall system of robots as compared to the performance of the robots when working in uncoordinated effort to execute the tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Hodge
  • Patent number: 10933755
    Abstract: Techniques involve managing lithium battery access on a utility vehicle. In accordance with such techniques, a wakeup circuit includes a set of inputs, a set of outputs, and control logic coupled with the set of inputs and the set of outputs. The control logic is constructed and arranged to, in response to detecting a wakeup event from circuitry of the utility vehicle via the set of inputs, close a switching apparatus of the utility vehicle via the set of outputs to connect a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to a set of loads of the utility vehicle. The control logic is further constructed and arranged to, in response to detecting a sleep event, open the switching apparatus via the set of outputs to disconnect the lithium battery of the utility vehicle from the set of loads of the utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Norman R. Padgett, John Ledden, Robert Charles Bradley, Patrick Dwaine Warden
  • Patent number: 10935980
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide techniques for automated replacement of components in a datacenter. A robot is instructed to follow a route to replace parts within a datacenter. Embodiments include predicting a failure rate for a plurality of computer components within a datacenter. A failure time is then predicted for the computer components based on the corresponding failure rate. A route is created that allows the robot to visit the one or more racks containing the computer components that need to be replaced. The robot then replaces the components that require replacing. In this way, datacenter efficiency is improved and operating costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Maharaj Mukherjee, Gregory J. Boss, Monimala Mukherjee, Jimi Lin
  • Patent number: 10926588
    Abstract: A combination air supply system for a work vehicle, includes a work vehicle compressor configured to be mounted on the work vehicle, wherein the work vehicle compressor is configured to compress a first supply of ambient air and to output a first compressed air supply via a compressed air line, wherein the compressed air line is configured to receive a second compressed air supply from an implement compressor via a compressed air connection line, wherein the implement compressor is configured to be mounted on an implement towed by the work vehicle, wherein the compressed air connection line is configured to couple the implement compressor to the compressed air line via a coupler, and a tire inflation system fluidly coupled to the compressed air line and configured to selectively increase and decrease an air pressure within a tire of the work vehicle, wherein the tire inflation system is configured to distribute the first compressed air supply, the second compressed air supply, and a combination air supply of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Stefano Fiorati, Eran Salzman, Darían E. Landolt
  • Patent number: 10919521
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a smart parking assist system (SPAS) and a method of controlling the smart parking assist system. The system and method detect an obstacle that is located on a path to a parking space for automatic parking and is not detected by a sensor of a vehicle using a target speed, a moving speed, and a driving torque of the vehicle, control the vehicle to pass over the obstacle according to a position of the detected obstacle, or change an automatic parking termination condition and complete the automatic parking, thereby detecting the obstacle even though the obstacle is not detected by a sensor in the process of controlling the automatic parking and completing the automatic parking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 10913152
    Abstract: A robot device controller including a memory configured to store a statistical model trained to implement a behaviour of the robot device, one or more processors configured to determine a nominal trajectory represented by the statistical model, determine an expected force experienced by the robot device when the robot device is controlled to move in accordance with the nominal trajectory, determine a measured force experienced by the robot device when the robot device is controlled to move in accordance with the nominal trajectory and adapt the statistical model based on a reduction of the difference between the measured force and the expected force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Leonel Rozo
  • Patent number: 10909866
    Abstract: Autonomous and manually operated vehicles are integrated into a cohesive, interactive environment, with communications to each other and to their surroundings, to improve traffic flow while reducing accidents and other incidents. All vehicles send/receive messages to/from each other, and from infrastructure devices, enabling the vehicles to determine their status, traffic conditions and infrastructure. The vehicles store and operate in accordance with a common set of rules based upon the messages received and other inputs from sensors, databases, and so forth, to avoid obstacles and collisions based upon current and, in some cases, future or predicted behavior. Shared vehicle control interfaces enable the AVs to conform to driving activities that are legal, safe, and allowable on roadways. Such activities enable each AV to drive within safety margins, speed limits, on allowed or legal driving lanes and through allowed turns, intersections, mergers, lane changes, stops/starts, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Charles J. Jacobus, Douglas Haanpaa, Eugene Foulk, Pritpaul Mahal, Steve Rowe, Charles J. Cohen, Glenn J. Beach
  • Patent number: 10906494
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for predicting occupant location based on vehicular collision. The method includes receiving, at a computing system including one or more processors, information indicative of a vehicle crash involving a vehicle occupant. The method also includes receiving, at the computing system, information indicative of a position of the vehicle occupant within the vehicle prior to the vehicle crash. The method also includes determining, by the one or more processors, a probability of ejection of the vehicle occupant according to (i) the information indicative of the vehicle crash and (ii) the position of vehicle occupant. The method also includes providing, by the computing system, the probability of ejection of the vehicle occupant to one or more emergency responders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Chan, Kenneth J. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 10889000
    Abstract: A robotic system that includes a mobile robot linked to a plurality of remote stations. One of the remote stations includes an arbitrator that controls access to the robot. Each remote station may be assigned a priority that is used by the arbitrator to determine which station has access to the robot. The arbitrator may include notification and call back mechanisms for sending messages relating to an access request and a granting of access for a remote station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TELADOC HEALTH
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Keith Phillip Laby, Jonathan Southard
  • Patent number: 10885728
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a rapidly perceivable display of vehicular data includes a processor, a sensor interface, a device display, and a memory. The memory contains instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to obtain, via the sensor interface, vehicle data, determine, based on the vehicle data, a plurality of status datums, determine, for each status datum of the plurality of status datums, a current priority value, and display, on the device display, a hierarchical array. In at least one embodiment, the hierarchical array presents a set of status datums determined to have the highest current priority values of the plurality of status datums. In at least one embodiment, each status datum of the hierarchical array occupies a location in the hierarchical array corresponding to its current priority value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventor: William H. Havins
  • Patent number: 10877475
    Abstract: The robot device includes a spatial information recording unit where first spatial information about an area in which the movement of a robot device to be self-propelled with respect to a structure is supposed and which is associated with the structure is recorded, a spatial information acquisition section that is mounted on the robot device and acquires second spatial information about a peripheral area of the robot device with the movement of the robot device, and a spatial information updating unit that updates the first spatial information recorded in the spatial information recording unit with the second spatial information acquired by the spatial information acquisition section. The first spatial information recorded in the spatial information recording unit is used in a case in which the robot device is moved with respect to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shunichiro Nonaka
  • Patent number: 10866783
    Abstract: The following invention is a vocally activated control system for controlling an apparatus in a surgical setting, the system comprises: a. a voice sensor configured to detect vocal commands generated by surgeons during surgery; b. a signal transmitter connected to the voice sensor, the transmitter is configured to convert a vocal command into a transmittable signal and transmit it; c. a processor connected to a signal transmitter configured to receive a transmittable vocal signal, the processor is configured to convert a vocal signal to a predetermined set of operative instructions associated with the apparatus, the predetermined set of operative instructions comprising at least one instruction; and d. control means connected to the processor and apparatus; the control means is configured to receive a predetermined set of operative instructions and to cause the apparatus to operate accordingly; Said voice sensor and said transmitter are integrated within a wearable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Transenterix Europe S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Gal Atarot, Motti Frimer, Tal Nir, Lior Alpert
  • Patent number: 10838396
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network receives a set of sensor data from a plurality of sensors deployed in a location. The device determines a physical layout for furnishings in the location based on the received set of sensor data. One or more of the furnishings is equipped with one or more actuators configured to move the equipped furnishing in one or more directions. The device generates an instruction for the one or more actuators of a particular one of the furnishings based on the determined physical layout for the furnishings. The device sends the instruction to the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing, to implement the determined physical layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Calvin Byers, Joseph Michael Clarke, Gonzalo Salgueiro, Pascal Thubert
  • Patent number: 10809071
    Abstract: Provided is a process executed by a robot, including: traversing, to a first position, a first distance in a backward direction; after traversing the first distance, rotating 180 degrees in a first rotation; after the first rotation, traversing, to a second position, a second distance in the second direction; and after traversing the second distance, rotating 180 degrees in a second rotation such that the field of view of the sensor points in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Sebastian Schweigert, Lukas Fath, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 10801180
    Abstract: A work machine includes a controllable subsystem, the controllable subsystem having an actuator configured to actuate a movable element of the subsystem. The work machine also includes a control system configured to generate and send control signals to the controllable subsystem actuator, wherein the control signals cause an actuation of the actuator. The work machine also includes a self protection system configured to prevent the control system from sending a control signal to the actuator that would cause a collision between the controllable subsystem and a portion work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Lance R. Sherlock
  • Patent number: 10794747
    Abstract: A powertrain controller of a vehicle provides a fuel pump actuator signal indicative of fuel flow to a vehicle bus. A processor is configured to receive data from the vehicle bus. The processor performs an integration of the actuator signal to accumulate fuel usage of the vehicle, and periodically sends the accumulated fuel usage, vehicle speed, engine speed, engine status, and vehicle location to a remote server. A subset of accumulated fuel usage is retrieved for a set of the vehicles of a fleet traversing a route during a timeframe, the accumulated fuel usage compiled from fuel pump actuator signals. Fuel waste is computed for identified idle time periods within the accumulated fuel usage. Monetary waste is computed from the fuel waste. A report is generated including the monetary waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Brian Hofmann, John William Schmotzer, Richard Gordon, Darcy Salman
  • Patent number: 10786906
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot for performing predetermined processing to a treating object, a photographing device for photographing the treating object, a robot control device for performing position compensation of a moving destination of the robot so as to track the treating object, on a basis of previously-set information on positions of the robot, the photographing device and the treating object, and an image of the treating object photographed by the photographing device, and a display device for providing an AR space. The robot control device calculates a position of the photographing device on the basis of the information on the positions of the robot and the photographing device. The display device displays an image imitating the photographing device at a corresponding position in the AR space, on a basis of the calculated position of the photographing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Makoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 10788235
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a control system, a control method, and a storage medium through which a moving object can change a surrounding environment of a user depending on an emotion of the user. [Solution] Provided is a control system including: an estimation unit that estimates an emotion of a user; and a moving object controller that controls a moving object to change a surrounding environment of the user depending on the estimated emotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Shionozaki, Satoshi Ikeda, Tetsuo Tawara, Yasushi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 10751139
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical controlling system, comprising: a. at least one surgical tool configured to be insertable into a surgical environment of a human body for assisting a surgical procedure; b. at least one location estimating means configured to real-time locate the 3D spatial position of said at least one surgical tool at any given time t; c. at least one movement detection means communicable with a movement's database and with said location estimating means; and, d. a controller having a processing means communicable with a controller's database, said controller configured to control the spatial position of said at least one surgical tool; said controller's database is in communication with said movement detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TransEnterix Europe S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Motti Frimer, Mordehai Sholev, Yehuda Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 10744645
    Abstract: A measurement system includes a plurality of reflectors of a robot, a measurement apparatus having a laser head which emits a laser beam toward the reflectors and which receives a reflected light from the reflectors, a head driving device which changes orientation of the laser head, and a robot control apparatus which controls the robot based on the calibration operation program and which sequentially places the distal end portion of the robot at a plurality of measurement positions for conducting calibration. The robot control apparatus conducts a head drive control process of receiving controller coordinate data of any one of the plurality of reflectors, which is used at the time of sequentially placing the distal end portion of the robot at plurality of measurement positions, and sending a control signal for changing the orientation of the laser head to the head driving device by using the received controller coordinate data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuelai Wang, Soichi Arita