Patents by Inventor James T. Francis

James T. Francis 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: 11490563
    Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Franklin Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210137003
    Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, JR.
  • Patent number: 10888045
    Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Franklin Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170238460
    Abstract: An autonomous garden weeding robot includes a chassis, a motorized cutting subsystem, and a drive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis. A weed sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a first elevation from the ground and a crop/obstacle sensor subsystem is located on the chassis at a second, higher elevation from the ground. The drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis about a garden. Upon detection of a weed, the motorized cutting subsystem is energized to cut the weed. The motorized cutting subsystem is de-energized after the chassis has moved a predetermined distance and/or after a predetermined period of time. Upon detection of a crop or obstacle, the drive subsystem is controlled to maneuver the chassis away from the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Rory MacKean, Joseph L. Jones, James T. Francis, JR.
  • Patent number: 6823470
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for using a first data channel to pass working data and a second data channel to pass error correction information. For example, this second data channel may be defined along a redundant data path. For example, this error correction information may be forwarded error correction (FEC) information such as Hamming code information or any other type of error correction information. Use of the redundant path to forward FEC information provides several advantages: 1) the FEC information can be used to correct bit errors that occur within the system, making the system high-quality and more reliable and 2) use of the protected path provides an efficient method to constantly monitor the quality of both the working and redundant path. Monitoring is accomplished by using the FEC information on the redundant path in conjunction with the information on the working path to accurately count the number of errors that occur on the working and redundant paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Sycamore Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Smith, Howard C. Reeve, III, James T. Francis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020016933
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for using a first data channel to pass working data and a second data channel to pass error correction information. For example, this second data channel may be defined along a redundant data path. For example, this error correction information may be forwarded error correction (FEC) information such as Hamming code information or any other type of error correction information. Use of the redundant path to forward FEC information provides several advantages: 1) the FEC information can be used to correct bit errors that occur within the system, making the system high-quality and more reliable and 2) use of the protected path provides an efficient method to constantly monitor the quality of both the working and redundant path. Monitoring is accomplished by using the FEC information on the redundant path in conjunction with the information on the working path to accurately count the number of errors that occur on the working and redundant paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Douglas Edward Smith, Howard C. Reeve, James T. Francis
  • Patent number: 6179976
    Abstract: A surface treatment and method for applying the surface treatment to electrical components are provided that include a coating of yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG), which is applied to the inner surface of the component by sputtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: COM DEV Limited
    Inventors: Ian A. D'Souza, Andrzej Zybura, James T. Francis, Bradley A. Kobe