Patents by Inventor Colin Duffie

Colin Duffie 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).

  • Reusable Mechanically Fused Dovetail Retainer Mechanisms
    Publication number: 20220355492
    Abstract: A reusable mechanism is disclosed for coupling two robotic appendages, such that an unintended force acting against a side of one of the appendages may decouple the appendages. The mechanism includes a revolved male dovetail mated to a revolved female dovetail. The mechanism may further include a channel within the male dovetail and a detent that inhibits rotation of the male dovetail in relation to the female dovetail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Marc Strauss, Colin Duffie, Bin Su
  • Reusable mechanically fused dovetail retainer mechanisms
    Patent number: 11426884
    Abstract: A reusable mechanism is disclosed for coupling two robotic appendages, such that an unintended force acting against a side of one of the appendages may decouple the appendages. The mechanism includes a revolved male dovetail mated to a revolved female dovetail. The mechanism may further include a channel within the male dovetail and a detent that inhibits rotation of the male dovetail in relation to the female dovetail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Marc Strauss, Colin Duffie, Bin Su
  • ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLING OPTICAL TRANSMISSION OF A LENS OF A CAMERA IN VARIABLE LIGHTING
    Publication number: 20210136271
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for controlling optical transmission of a lens of a camera. A method includes obtaining a first image from a camera, determining that the first image does not satisfy an image requirement, in response to determining that the first image does not satisfy an image requirement, increasing an optical transmission of a lens of the camera, and, obtaining a second image with the camera while the optical transmission of the lens of the camera is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Colin Duffie
  • Electronically controlling optical transmission of a lens of a camera in variable lighting
    Patent number: 10924690
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for controlling optical transmission of a lens of a camera. A method includes obtaining a first image from a camera, determining that the first image does not satisfy an image requirement, in response to determining that the first image does not satisfy an image requirement, increasing an optical transmission of a lens of the camera, and, obtaining a second image with the camera while the optical transmission of the lens of the camera is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Colin Duffie
  • Reusable Mechanically Fused Dovetail Retainer Mechanisms
    Publication number: 20200361100
    Abstract: A reusable mechanism is disclosed for coupling two robotic appendages, such that an unintended force acting against a side of one of the appendages may decouple the appendages. The mechanism includes a revolved male dovetail mated to a revolved female dovetail. The mechanism may further include a channel within the male dovetail and a detent that inhibits rotation of the male dovetail in relation to the female dovetail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Marc Strauss, Colin Duffie, Bin Su
  • ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLING OPTICAL TRANSMISSION OF A LENS OF A CAMERA IN VARIABLE LIGHTING
    Publication number: 20200336642
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, for controlling optical transmission of a lens of a camera. A method includes obtaining a first image from a camera, determining that the first image does not satisfy an image requirement, in response to determining that the first image does not satisfy an image requirement, increasing an optical transmission of a lens of the camera, and, obtaining a second image with the camera while the optical transmission of the lens of the camera is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Colin Duffie
  • Reusable mechanically fused dovetail retainer mechanisms
    Patent number: 10759063
    Abstract: A reusable mechanism is disclosed for coupling two robotic appendages, such that an unintended force acting against a side of one of the appendages may decouple the appendages. The mechanism includes a revolved male dovetail mated to a revolved female dovetail. The mechanism may further include a channel within the male dovetail and a detent that inhibits rotation of the male dovetail in relation to the female dovetail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Marc Strauss, Colin Duffie, Bin Su