Patents by Inventor Bill Tompkins

Bill Tompkins 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: 11666933
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a zero-turn radius robotic base may comprise a substantially rectangular (e.g., rectangular) base portion that comprises a plurality of wheels. In various embodiments, the plurality of wheels are configured to support the robotic base adjacent a support surface (e.g., the ground, a suitable flooring surface within a building, etc.). In some embodiments, the robotic base comprises a first and second driving wheel and a plurality of stability wheels. In some embodiments, an axis of rotation of the first and the second driving wheel are collinear. In various embodiments, the plurality of stability wheels are spaces apart from the axis of rotation of the first and second driving wheels to provide stability to the robotic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: RevolutioNice Inc.
    Inventors: Sreenivas Raman, Bill Tompkins, TianHao Ye
  • Patent number: 11090674
    Abstract: A paint robot having a sprayer that is substantially fixed in an orientation in which the spray fan is perpendicular to the wall surface may be ineffective at painting portions of a wall that are not substantially flat (e.g., flat). These portions may include one or more protrusions and/or recesses such as, for example: (1) a chair rail or other suitable piece of molding; (2) one or more window ledges and/or sills; (3) one or more exit signs; (4) one or more thermostats; (5) etc. As such, it may be desirable to incorporate an articulating spray head (e.g., a pivoting sprayer) into an automated mobile painting system in order to, for example, paint the upper and lower portions of the wall by angling the paint sprayer to paint over and/or under the various protrusions which may exist on the wall as discussed above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: RevolutioNice Inc.
    Inventors: Sreenivas Raman, Bill Tompkins, TianHao Ye, Condoor Lakshmi Punith Kumar
  • Publication number: 20200016619
    Abstract: Any system described herein may be implemented in the context of an autonomous drywall installation robot. For example, an autonomous drywall installation robot may include one or more components such as a series of nested carriages, one or more drywall attachment mechanisms, one or more drywall positioning and fastening mechanisms, etc. In various other embodiments, any system described herein may be configured to utilize two or more robots described herein to work in conjunction toward one or more common goals. In one illustrative example, a first and second drywall installation robot may be configured to work in conjunction to: (1) lift a panel (e.g., a stone panel, tile, piece of drywall, sheetrock, gypsum board, or other construction board, etc.); (2) position the panel in a desired area; and (3) secure the panel in the desired area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Sreenivas Raman, Bill Tompkins, Ricky E. Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20190388926
    Abstract: A paint robot having a sprayer that is substantially fixed in an orientation in which the spray fan is perpendicular to the wall surface may be ineffective at painting portions of a wall that are not substantially flat (e.g., flat). These portions may include one or more protrusions and/or recesses such as, for example: (1) a chair rail or other suitable piece of molding; (2) one or more window ledges and/or sills; (3) one or more exit signs; (4) one or more thermostats; (5) etc. As such, it may be desirable to incorporate an articulating spray head (e.g., a pivoting sprayer) into an automated mobile painting system in order to, for example, paint the upper and lower portions of the wall by angling the paint sprayer to paint over and/or under the various protrusions which may exist on the wall as discussed above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Sreenivas Raman, Bill Tompkins, TianHao Ye, Condoor Lakshmi Punith Kumar
  • Publication number: 20190388925
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a zero-turn radius robotic base may comprise a substantially rectangular (e.g., rectangular) base portion that comprises a plurality of wheels. In various embodiments, the plurality of wheels are configured to support the robotic base adjacent a support surface (e.g., the ground, a suitable flooring surface within a building, etc.). In some embodiments, the robotic base comprises a first and second driving wheel and a plurality of stability wheels. In some embodiments, an axis of rotation of the first and the second driving wheel are collinear. In various embodiments, the plurality of stability wheels are spaces apart from the axis of rotation of the first and second driving wheels to provide stability to the robotic base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Sreenivas Raman, Bill Tompkins, TianHao Ye
  • Publication number: 20020080183
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a primary display and a window containing additional information is provided. The apparatus contains a display device, a displaying mechanism, and an exposing mechanism. The display device has a screen, and the displaying mechanism displays the primary display on the screen. The exposing mechanism generates and displays the window containing the additional information on the screen such that the window is located underneath the primary display while the primary display is displayed on the screen and is exposed by removing the primary display from on top of the window. A method which is performed by the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: PIONEER DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Johnson, Marvin Carlberg, Bill Tompkins, Tracy Bader
  • Patent number: 6400379
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a primary display and a window containing additional information is provided. The apparatus contains a display device, a displaying mechanism, and an exposing mechanism. The display device has a screen, and the displaying mechanism displays the primary display on the screen. The exposing mechanism generates and displays the window containing the additional information on the screen such that the window is located underneath the primary display while the primary display is displayed on the screen and is exposed by removing the primary display from on top of the window. A method which is performed by the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Pioneer Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Johnson, Marvin Carlberg, Bill Tompkins, Tracy Bader