Patents Assigned to Orbotix, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9090214
    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 mechanism is coupled to the internal drive system and includes a spring and a spring end in contact with the inner surface of the spherical housing. An accessory component magnetically interacts with the biasing mechanism through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates along, the accessory component remains stable with respect to the biasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Mickey Kong Chun
  • Publication number: 20150175202
    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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross MacGregor, Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson
  • Patent number: 9050932
    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 mechanism is coupled to the internal drive system and includes a spring and a spring end in contact with the inner surface of the spherical housing. An accessory component magnetically interacts with the biasing mechanism through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates along, the accessory component remains stable with respect to the biasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Mickey Kong Chun
  • Publication number: 20140238762
    Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-purposed, self-propelled device and method for operation of the self-propelled device. Certain variations can include a spherical housing having an internal drive system and a multifunctional payload space for use in a variety of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Berberian, Ian Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Kevin Hemmings, Ross MacGregor
  • Publication number: 20140236393
    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: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Brian Keith Smith
  • Patent number: 8751063
    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: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Brian Keith Smith
  • Publication number: 20140146084
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for processing data content. Received data content comprises a scene and includes one or more recognized objects. The recognized object(s) include various characteristics, and can be detected and tracked during content capture. The data content can then be stored, and incorporated with metadata associated with the recognized object and/or one or more other elements in the data content. User inputs can be enabled in real-time, or post-capture, to augment one or more of the elements in the stored data content, including one or more characteristics of the recognized object. The data content can then be augmented to introduce one or more augmented elements, corresponding to respective elements of the data content, into the data content based on the user inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Polo, Skylar Castator-Smith, Adam Wilson, Brian Smith, Patrick Martin, Brandon Dorris
  • Publication number: 20140020964
    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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson
  • Publication number: 20130301879
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a computing device. One or more images of a scene captured by an image capturing device of the computing device is processed. The scene includes an object of interest that is in motion and that has a rounded shape. The one or more images are processed by detecting a rounded object that corresponds to the object of interest. Position information is determined based on a relative position of the rounded object in the one or more images. One or more processes are implemented that utilize the position information determined from the relative position of the rounded object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Polo
  • Patent number: 8571781
    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: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson
  • Publication number: 20130173089
    Abstract: A computing device operating as a controller can obtain image data from a camera component. The computing device can determine a location of the self-propelled device relative to the camera based on the image data. A virtual content may be generated on the computing device based at least in part on the location of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Orbotix, Inc.
    Inventor: Orbotix, Inc.