Patents by Inventor Brent Hild
Brent Hild 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).
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Publication number: 20230248199Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot including a drive configured to move the cleaning robot across a floor surface in an area to be cleaned and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data representing an editable mission timeline including data representing a sequence of rooms to be cleaned, navigate the cleaning robot to clean the rooms following the sequence, track operational events occurring in each of the rooms, and transmit data about time spent navigating each room included in the sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Benjamin H. Schriesheim, Cory White, Brent Hild
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Publication number: 20230244240Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for validating location of a docking station for docking a mobile robot. In an example, a mobile robot system includes a docking station and a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile cleaning robot includes a drive system to move the mobile cleaning robot about an environment including a docking area within a distance of the docking station, and a controller circuit to detect, from an image of the docking area, a presence or absence of one or more obstacles in the docking area. A notification may be generated to inform a user about the detected obstacles. The mobile device may generate a recommendation to the user to clear the docking area or reposition the docking station, or suggest one or more candidate locations for placing the docking station.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Laura V. Herlant, Brent Hild, Ryan Schneider, Benjamin Glazer
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Patent number: 11662737Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for validating location of a docking station for docking a mobile robot. In an example, a mobile robot system includes a docking station and a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile cleaning robot includes a drive system to move the mobile cleaning robot about an environment including a docking area within a distance of the docking station, and a controller circuit to detect, from an image of the docking area, a presence or absence of one or more obstacles in the docking area. A notification may be generated to inform a user about the detected obstacles. The mobile device may generate a recommendation to the user to clear the docking area or reposition the docking station, or suggest one or more candidate locations for placing the docking station.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Laura V. Herlant, Brent Hild, Ryan Schneider, Benjamin Glazer
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Patent number: 11638510Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot including a drive configured to move the cleaning robot across a floor surface in an area to be cleaned and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data representing an editable mission timeline including data representing a sequence of rooms to be cleaned, navigate the cleaning robot to clean the rooms following the sequence, track operational events occurring in each of the rooms, and transmit data about time spent navigating each room included in the sequence.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Benjamin H. Schriesheim, Cory White, Brent Hild
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Publication number: 20220206507Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for validating location of a docking station for docking a mobile robot. In an example, a mobile robot system includes a docking station and a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile cleaning robot includes a drive system to move the mobile cleaning robot about an environment including a docking area within a distance of the docking station, and a controller circuit to detect, from an image of the docking area, a presence or absence of one or more obstacles in the docking area. A notification may be generated to inform a user about the detected obstacles. The mobile device may generate a recommendation to the user to clear the docking area or reposition the docking station, or suggest one or more candidate locations for placing the docking station.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Laura V. Herlant, Brent Hild, Ryan Schneider, Benjamin Glazer
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Publication number: 20210224579Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot includes a cleaning head configured to clean a floor surface in an environment, and at least one camera having a field of view that extends above the floor surface. The at least one camera is configured to capture images that include portions of the environment above the floor surface. The robot includes a recognition module is configured to recognize objects in the environment based on the images captured by the at least one camera, in which the recognition module is trained at least in part using the images captured by the at least one camera. The robot includes a storage device is configured to store a map of the environment. The robot includes a control module configured to control the mobile cleaning robot to navigate in the environment using the map and operate the cleaning head to perform cleaning tasks taking into account of the objects recognized by the recognition module.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Christopher V. Jones, Gary Ellis Hall, Steven J. Baron, Brent Hild, Stefan Zickler, John Sinnigen
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Publication number: 20210076892Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot including a drive configured to move the cleaning robot across a floor surface in an area to be cleaned and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data representing an editable mission timeline including data representing a sequence of rooms to be cleaned, navigate the cleaning robot to clean the rooms following the sequence, track operational events occurring in each of the rooms, and transmit data about time spent navigating each room included in the sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Benjamin H. Schriesheim, Cory White, Brent Hild
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Patent number: 10878294Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot includes a cleaning head configured to clean a floor surface in an environment, and at least one camera having a field of view that extends above the floor surface. The at least one camera is configured to capture images that include portions of the environment above the floor surface. The robot includes a recognition module is configured to recognize objects in the environment based on the images captured by the at least one camera, in which the recognition module is trained at least in part using the images captured by the at least one camera. The robot includes a storage device is configured to store a map of the environment. The robot includes a control module configured to control the mobile cleaning robot to navigate in the environment using the map and operate the cleaning head to perform cleaning tasks taking into account of the objects recognized by the recognition module.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Christopher V. Jones, Gary Ellis Hall, Steven J. Baron, Brent Hild, Stefan Zickler, John Sinnigen
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Publication number: 20190213438Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot includes a cleaning head configured to clean a floor surface in an environment, and at least one camera having a field of view that extends above the floor surface. The at least one camera is configured to capture images that include portions of the environment above the floor surface. The robot includes a recognition module is configured to recognize objects in the environment based on the images captured by the at least one camera, in which the recognition module is trained at least in part using the images captured by the at least one camera. The robot includes a storage device is configured to store a map of the environment. The robot includes a control module configured to control the mobile cleaning robot to navigate in the environment using the map and operate the cleaning head to perform cleaning tasks taking into account of the objects recognized by the recognition module.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2018Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Christopher V. Jones, Gary Ellis Hall, Steven J. Baron, Brent Hild, Stefan Zickler, John Sinnigen
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Publication number: 20180344116Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot including a drive configured to move the cleaning robot across a floor surface in an area to be cleaned and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data representing an editable mission timeline including data representing a sequence of rooms to be cleaned, navigate the cleaning robot to clean the rooms following the sequence, track operational events occurring in each of the rooms, and transmit data about time spent navigating each room included in the sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Benjamin H. Schriesheim, Cory White, Brent Hild
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Patent number: 8998003Abstract: A freestanding storage station includes a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel side members and a roof that is supported by the side members. Each side member includes a cross bar, and at least one saddle-shaped, hollow ballast-receiving member that straddles the cross bar and rests on the ground. When filled with ballast, the ballast-receiving members serve to stabilize the storage station relative to the ground and enable the storage station to resist movement due to environmental winds or collision. The ballast-receiving members include a first ballast-receiving portion and a second ballast-receiving portion, and the ballast member straddles the cross bar such that the first ballast-receiving portion resides on an interior-facing side of the cross bar and the second ballast-receiving portion resides on an exterior-facing side of the cross bar.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa
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Publication number: 20130186016Abstract: A freestanding storage station includes a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel side members and a roof that is supported by the side members. Each side member includes a cross bar, and at least one saddle-shaped, hollow ballast-receiving member that straddles the cross bar and rests on the ground. When filled with ballast, the ballast-receiving members serve to stabilize the storage station relative to the ground and enable the storage station to resist movement due to environmental winds or collision. The ballast-receiving members include a first ballast-receiving portion and a second ballast-receiving portion, and the ballast member straddles the cross bar such that the first ballast-receiving portion resides on an interior-facing side of the cross bar and the second ballast-receiving portion resides on an exterior-facing side of the cross bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa
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Patent number: 8444343Abstract: A bollard assembly includes a bollard, and a load transfer member disposed in the bollard, and a shock absorber disposed within the load transfer member. A fastener extends through the load transfer member and shock absorber, and secures the bollard, load transfer member and shock absorber to a ground surface. The load transfer member adjoins the bollard so as to be disposed between the shock absorber and the bollard, and the load transfer member is configured so that when an impact force is applied to the bollard, the force is transferred from the bollard to the shock absorber via the load transfer member. The deflection is absorbed by the shock absorber so that the anchor remains undeformed and the ground remains undamaged. Moreover, due to the resilience of the shock absorber, the bollard and load transfer member are returned to a normal, upright orientation upon withdrawal of the impact load.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa, Thomas C. Fitch
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Patent number: 8376650Abstract: A bollard assembly is disclosed that includes an elongate hollow bollard having opposed first and second ends, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and through hole formed in the side wall. The assembly also includes a sleeve configured to receive and support a lower portion of the bollard, and a hollow cylindrical insert disposed within the lower end of the bollard. A pin protrudes outward from the insert sidewall, extends through the bollard through hole and engages the sleeve, whereby the assembly is retained in an assembled configuration. The bollard includes a prescribed breakaway line along which an upper portion of the bollard can be separated from the lower portion upon sufficient impact. Once the upper portion is broken away, the insert permits the lower portion of the bollard to be removed from the sleeve and replaced with a replacement bollard.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
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Publication number: 20120301219Abstract: A bollard assembly includes a bollard, and a load transfer member disposed in the bollard, and a shock absorber disposed within the load transfer member. A fastener extends through the load transfer member and shock absorber, and secures the bollard, load transfer member and shock absorber to a ground surface. The load transfer member adjoins the bollard so as to be disposed between the shock absorber and the bollard, and the load transfer member is configured so that when an impact force is applied to the bollard, the force is transferred from the bollard to the shock absorber via the load transfer member. The deflection is absorbed by the shock absorber so that the anchor remains undeformed and the ground remains undamaged. Moreover, due to the resilience of the shock absorber, the bollard and load transfer member are returned to a normal, upright orientation upon withdrawal of the impact load.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa, Thomas C. Fitch
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Publication number: 20120251236Abstract: A bollard assembly is disclosed that includes an elongate hollow bollard having opposed first and second ends, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and through hole formed in the side wall. The assembly also includes a sleeve configured to receive and support a lower portion of the bollard, and a hollow cylindrical insert disposed within the lower end of the bollard. A pin protrudes outward from the insert sidewall, extends through the bollard through hole and engages the sleeve, whereby the assembly is retained in an assembled configuration. The bollard includes a prescribed breakaway line along which an upper portion of the bollard can be separated from the lower portion upon sufficient impact. Once the upper portion is broken away, the insert permits the lower portion of the bollard to be removed from the sleeve and replaced with a replacement bollard.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: McCue CorporationInventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
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Patent number: 7901156Abstract: A plate-mounted bollard which includes an internal impact absorption mechanism that enables the bollard to absorb impact forces greater than conventional plate-mounted bollards. The bollard makes use of a force transfer process that shifts impact forces to areas better able to resiliently absorb the impact without causing damage to the bollard, the impact absorption mechanism, or the ground in which the bollard is installed. The impact absorption mechanism consists of an internal resilient core rod mounted at its proximal end to a base plate which is fixed to the ground. Impact forces are then transferred through an outer shell to the distal or upper end of the internal resilient core. With energy from the impact force being distributed along the maximum length of the resilient core rod, the rod flexes and the full length of the rod is utilized to absorb the impact energy.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2010Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Daniel B. Ballou, James F. McKeever, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, Sandra K. Jauron, Brent Hild
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Patent number: D646404Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
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Patent number: D655945Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Teodoro A. Mesa, Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Timothy David Stratford
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Patent number: D701322Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa