Patents by Inventor Ian H. Bernstein

Ian H. Bernstein 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: 9886032
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system. The self-propelled device can further include an internal structure having a magnet holder that holds a first set of magnets and an external accessory comprising a second set of magnets to magnetically interact, through the spherical housing, with the first set magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SPHERO, INC.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9841758
    Abstract: A self-propelled device determines an orientation for its movement based on a pre-determined reference frame. A controller device is operable by a user to control the self-propelled device. The controller device includes a user interface for controlling at least a direction of movement of the self-propelled device. The self-propelled device is configured to signal the controller device information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device. The controller device is configured to orient the user interface, based on the information signaled from the self-propelled device, to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SPHERO, INC.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Brian Keith Smith
  • Patent number: 9829882
    Abstract: A self-propelled device is disclosed that includes a center of mass drive system. The self-propelled device includes a substantially cylindrical body and wheels, with each wheel having a diameter substantially equivalent to the body. The self-propelled device may further include an internal drive system with a center of mass below a rotational axis of the wheels. Operation and maneuvering of the self-propelled device may be performed via active displacement of the center of mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SPHERO, INC.
    Inventors: Ross MacGregor, Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson
  • Patent number: 9766620
    Abstract: A self-propelled device is provided including a drive system, a spherical housing, and a biasing mechanism. The drive system includes one or more motors that are contained within the spherical housing. The biasing mechanism actively forces the drive system to continuously engage an interior of the spherical housing in order to cause the spherical housing to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson
  • Publication number: 20170192517
    Abstract: A wearable device can be worn by a user, and can include one or more sensors to detect user gestures performed by the user. The wearable device can further include a wireless communication module to establish a communication link with a self-propelled device, and a controller that can generate control commands based on the user gestures. The control commands may be executable to accelerate and maneuver the self-propelled device. The controller may then transmit the control commands to the self-propelled device over the communication link for execution by the self-propelled device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: David Hygh, Jeffrey Wiencrot, Ian H. Bernstein
  • Publication number: 20170080352
    Abstract: A system comprising a self-propelled device and an accessory device. The self-propelled device includes a spherical housing, and a drive system provided within the spherical housing to cause the self-propelled device to roll. When the self-propelled device rolls, the self-propelled device and the accessory device magnetically interact to maintain the accessory device in contact with a top position of the spherical housing relative to an underlying surface on which the spherical housing is rolling on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong
  • Publication number: 20160349748
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9481410
    Abstract: A system comprising a self-propelled device and an accessory device. The self-propelled device includes a spherical housing, and a drive system provided within the spherical housing to cause the self-propelled device to roll. When the self-propelled device rolls, the self-propelled device and the accessory device magnetically interact to maintain the accessory device in contact with a top position of the spherical housing relative to an underlying surface on which the spherical housing is rolling on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong
  • Publication number: 20160291591
    Abstract: A self-propelled device can determine an initial reference frame of the self-propelled device in three-dimensional space, receive control inputs from a controller device, where the control inputs can be inputted by a user on a steering mechanism of the controller device. The self-propelled device can interpret the control inputs as control commands to maneuver the self-propelled device, and implement the control commands on an internal drive system of the self-propelled device to maneuver the self-propelled device based on the control inputs. While maneuvering, the self-propelled device can determine an orientation of the internal drive system within a spherical housing of the self-propelled device in relation to the initial reference frame, and transmit feedback to the controller device based on the orientation of the internal drive system in order to calibrate an orientation of the steering mechanism with the orientation of the internal drive system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, David E. Hygh
  • Patent number: 9457730
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system including one or more motors. The internal drive system acts to provide power to an interior surface of the spherical housing, thereby causing the self-propelled device to move. A biasing assembly can be included to enable the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing. An external accessory magnetically interacts with interior magnetic components through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates and maneuvers, the accessory component maintains a positional relationship to a top portion of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor
  • Publication number: 20160282871
    Abstract: A self-propelled device operates to interpret an input corresponding to a set of actions that are performed on a controller device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Brian Keith Smith, Jonathan Carroll
  • Patent number: 9429940
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system including one or more motors. The internal drive system acts to provide power to an interior surface of the spherical housing, thereby causing the self-propelled device to move. A biasing assembly can be included to enable the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing. An external accessory magnetically interacts with interior magnetic components through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates and maneuvers, the accessory component maintains a positional relationship to a top portion of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor, Damon Arniotes
  • Patent number: 9394016
    Abstract: A self-propelled device operates to interpret an input corresponding to a set of actions that are performed on a controller device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Brian Keith Smith, Jonathan Carroll
  • Patent number: 9395725
    Abstract: A self-propelled device can include a spherical housing, an internal drive system, and an inertial measurement unit. The self-propelled device can determine an initial frame of reference for the self-propelled device in a three-dimensional coordinate system. The self-propelled device can further receive control inputs from a controller device, translate the control inputs into commands to maneuver the self-propelled device, and implement the commands on the internal drive system to cause the spherical housing to rotate about each axis of the three-dimensional coordinate system. Utilizing the IMU, the self-propelled device can maintain an awareness of an orientation of the spherical housing relative to the initial frame of reference as the spherical housing rotates about each axis of the three-dimensional coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, David E. Hygh
  • Publication number: 20160202696
    Abstract: A self-propelled device determines an orientation for its movement based on a pre-determined reference frame. A controller device is operable by a user to control the self-propelled device. The controller device includes a user interface for controlling at least a direction of movement of the self-propelled device. The self-propelled device is configured to signal the controller device information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device. The controller device is configured to orient the user interface, based on the information signaled from the self-propelled device, to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Brian Keith Smith
  • Patent number: 9389612
    Abstract: A self-controlled device maintains a frame of reference about an x-, y- and z-axis. The self-controlled device processes an input to control the self-propelled device, the input being based on the x- and y-axis. The self-propelled device is controlled in its movement, including about each of the x-, y- and z-axis, based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, David E. Hygh
  • Patent number: 9342073
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system including one or more motors. The internal drive system acts to provide power to an interior surface of the spherical housing, thereby causing the self-propelled device to move. A biasing assembly can be included to enable the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing. An external accessory magnetically interacts with interior magnetic components through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates and maneuvers, the accessory component maintains a positional relationship to a top portion of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor
  • Publication number: 20160101741
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system including one or more motors. The internal drive system acts to provide power to an interior surface of the spherical housing, thereby causing the self-propelled device to move. A biasing assembly can be included to enable the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing. An external accessory magnetically interacts with interior magnetic components through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates and maneuvers, the accessory component maintains a positional relationship to a top portion of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor
  • Publication number: 20160090133
    Abstract: A system comprising a self-propelled device and an accessory device. The self-propelled device includes a spherical housing, and a drive system provided within the spherical housing to cause the self-propelled device to roll. When the self-propelled device rolls, the self-propelled device and the accessory device magnetically interact to maintain the accessory device in contact with a top position of the spherical housing relative to an underlying surface on which the spherical housing is rolling on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong
  • Patent number: 9290220
    Abstract: A self-propelled device determines an orientation for its movement based on a pre-determined reference frame. A controller device is operable by a user to control the self-propelled device. The controller device includes a user interface for controlling at least a direction of movement of the self-propelled device. The self-propelled device is configured to signal the controller device information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device. The controller device is configured to orient the user interface, based on the information signaled from the self-propelled device, to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Brian Keith Smith