Patents by Inventor Bruce Blumberg

Bruce Blumberg 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: 9043025
    Abstract: In various embodiments, safe collaboration between a robot and humans is achieved by operating the robot continuously at or below a first threshold speed at which any collisions with a person's arms do not cause harm, and, upon detection of the person's torso or head within a danger zone around the robot, reducing the speed to or below a second threshold at which any collisions with the person's torso or head do not cause harm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Brooks, Michael Sussman, Matthew Murray Williamson, William A. Goodwin, Noelle Dye, Bruce Blumberg
  • Patent number: 8996175
    Abstract: Robots may manipulate objects based on sensor input about the objects and/or the environment in conjunction with data structures representing primitive tasks and, in some embodiments, objects and/or locations associated therewith. The data structures may be created by instantiating respective prototypes during training by a human trainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Blumberg, Rodney Brooks, Christopher J. Buehler, Noelle Dye, Gerry Ens, Natan Linder, Michael Siracusa, Michael Sussman, Matthew M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 8996167
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user interface embedded into a robot facilitates robot training via direct and intuitive physical interactions. In some embodiments, the user interface includes a wrist cuff that, when grasped by the user, switches the robot into zero-force gravity-compensated mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Natan Linder, Rodney Brooks, Michael Sussman, Bruce Blumberg, Noelle Dye, Michael Caine, Elaine Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 8996174
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user interface embedded into a robot facilitates robot training via direct and intuitive physical interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Brooks, Bruce Blumberg, Noelle Dye, Paula Long
  • Patent number: 8965576
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user-guidable robot appendage provides haptic feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Elaine Y. Chen, Rodney Brooks, Christopher J. Buehler, Matthew M. Williamson, Bruce Blumberg, Noelle Dye, Joseph M. Romano, William A. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8958912
    Abstract: Robots may manipulate objects based on sensor input about the objects and/or the environment in conjunction with data structures representing primitive tasks and, in some embodiments, objects and/or locations associated therewith. The data structures may be created by instantiating respective prototypes during training by a human trainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Blumberg, Rodney Brooks, Christopher J. Buehler, Patrick A. Deegan, Matthew DiCicco, Noelle Dye, Gerry Ens, Natan Linder, Michael Siracusa, Michael Sussman, Matthew M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20140067121
    Abstract: In various embodiments, safe collaboration between a robot and humans is achieved by operating the robot continuously at or below a first threshold speed at which any collisions with a person's arms do not cause harm, and, upon detection of the person's torso or head within a danger zone around the robot, reducing the speed to or below a second threshold at which any collisions with the person's torso or head do not cause harm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Rodney Brooks, Michael Sussman, Matthew Murray Williamson, William A. Goodwin, Noelle Dye, Bruce Blumberg
  • Publication number: 20130345874
    Abstract: Robots may manipulate objects based on sensor input about the objects and/or the environment in conjunction with data structures representing primitive tasks and, in some embodiments, objects and/or locations associated therewith. The data structures may be created by instantiating respective prototypes during training by a human trainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Blumberg, Rodney Brooks, Christopher J. Buehler, Noelle Dye, Gerry Ens, Natan Linder, Michael Siracusa, Michael Sussman, Matthew M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20130345863
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user interface embedded into a robot facilitates robot training via direct and intuitive physical interactions. In some embodiments, the user interface includes a wrist cuff that, when grasped by the user, switches the robot into zero-force gravity-compensated mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Natan Linder, Rodney Brooks, Michael Sussman, Bruce Blumberg, Noelle Dye, Michael Caine, Elaine Y. Chen
  • Publication number: 20130345872
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user interface embedded into a robot facilitates robot training via direct and intuitive physical interactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney Brooks, Bruce Blumberg, Noelle Dye, Paula Long
  • Publication number: 20130345869
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a user-guidable robot appendage provides haptic feedback to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Elaine Y. Chen, Rodney Brooks, Christopher J. Buehler, Matthew M. Williamson, Bruce Blumberg, Noelle Dye, Joseph M. Romano, William A. Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20130345873
    Abstract: Robots may manipulate objects based on sensor input about the objects and/or the environment in conjunction with data structures representing primitive tasks and, in some embodiments, objects and/or locations associated therewith. The data structures may be created by instantiating respective prototypes during training by a human trainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Rethink Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Blumberg, Rodney Brooks, Christopher J. Buehler, Patrick A. Deegan, Matthew DiCicco, Noelle Dye, Gerry Ens, Natan Linder, Michael Siracusa, Michael Sussman, Matthew M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 7972782
    Abstract: A novel nuclear receptor, termed the steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR), a broad-specificity sensing receptor that is a novel branch of the nuclear receptor superfamily, has been discovered. SXR forms a heterodimer with RXR that can bind to and induce transcription from response elements present in steroid-inducible cytochrome P450 genes in response to hundreds of natural and synthetic compounds with biological activity, including therapeutic steroids as well as dietary steroids and lipids. Instead of hundreds of receptors, one for each inducing compound, the invention SXR receptors monitor aggregate levels of inducers to trigger production of metabolizing enzymes in a coordinated metabolic pathway. Agonists and antagonists of SXR are administered to subjects to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals dependent upon modulating metabolism of one or more endogenous steroids or xenobiotics to establish homeostasis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Bruce Blumberg
  • Patent number: 7250273
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to compositions of and methods for obtaining peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. The invention relates as well to the DNA sequences encoding peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, the recombinant vectors carrying those sequences, the recombinant host cells including either the sequences or vectors, and recombinant peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor polypeptides. By way of example, the invention discloses the cloning and functional expression of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, designated PPAR-?, obtained from a human source. The invention includes as well, methods for using the isolated, recombinant peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor polypeptides in assays designed to select and improve substances capable of interacting with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor polypeptides for use in diagnostic, drug design and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Inventors: Marianne E. Greene, Bruce Blumberg
  • Patent number: 7214482
    Abstract: A novel nuclear receptor, termed the steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR), a broad-specificity sensing receptor that is a novel branch of the nuclear receptor superfamily, has been discovered. SXR forms a heterodimer with RXR that can bind to and induce transcription from response elements present in steroid-inducible cytochrome P450 genes in response to hundreds of natural and synthetic compounds with biological activity, including therapeutic steroids as well as dietary steroids and lipids. Instead of hundreds of receptors, one for each inducing compound, the invention SXR receptors monitor aggregate levels of inducers to trigger production of metabolizing enzymes in a coordinated metabolic pathway. Agonists and antagonists of SXR are administered to subjects to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals dependent upon modulating metabolism of one or more endogenous steroids or xenobiotics to establish homeostasis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Bruce Blumberg
  • Publication number: 20070026445
    Abstract: A novel nuclear receptor, termed the steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR), a broad-specificity sensing receptor that is a novel branch of the nuclear receptor superfamily, has been discovered. SXR forms a heterodimer with RXR that can bind to and induce transcription from response elements present in steroid-inducible cytochrome P450 genes in response to hundreds of natural and synthetic compounds with biological activity, including therapeutic steroids as well as dietary steroids and lipids. Instead of hundreds of receptors, one for each inducing compound, the invention SXR receptors monitor aggregate levels of inducers to trigger production of metabolizing enzymes in a coordinated metabolic pathway. Agonists and antagonists of SXR are administered to subjects to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals dependent upon modulating metabolism of one or more endogenous steroids or xenobiotics to establish homeostasis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Ronald Evans, Bruce Blumberg
  • Publication number: 20060154335
    Abstract: Novel peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor subunits designated PPAR? and PPAR? are described. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the receptor subunits, expression vectors containing such sequences and host cells transformed with such vectors are also disclosed, as are heterodimeric PPAR receptors comprising at least one of the invention subunits, and methods for the expression of such novel receptors, and various uses therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Ronald Evans, Barry Forman, Steven Kliewer, Estelita Ong, Bruce Blumberg
  • Patent number: 6984773
    Abstract: A novel nuclear receptor, termed the steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR), a broad-specificity sensing receptor that is a novel branch of the nuclear receptor superfamily, has been discovered. SXR forms a heterodimer with RXR that can bind to and induce transcription from response elements present in steroid-inducible cytochrome P450 genes in response to hundreds of natural and synthetic compounds with biological activity, including therapeutic steroids as well as dietary steroids and lipids. Instead of hundreds of receptors, one for each inducing compound, the invention SXR receptors monitor aggregate levels of inducers to trigger production of metabolizing enzymes in a coordinated metabolic pathway. Agonists and antagonists of SXR are administered to subjects to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals dependent upon modulating metabolism of one or more endogenous steroids or xenobiotics to establish homeostasis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, Bruce Blumberg, Wen Xie
  • Patent number: 6940493
    Abstract: Remote, non-verbal interpersonal communication is facilitated between communication stations located remotely from each other. A first communication station registers proximity of a user thereto and communicates to a second communication station a signal indicative of the registered proximity. The first communication station also registers a physical gesture and communicates a signal indicative of the gesture to the second communication station. The second communication station, in turn, receives the signals and, in response thereto, produces a visual output indicative of proximity and of the gestural input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Bruce Blumberg, Angela Chang, Hiroshi Ishii, Brad Koerner, Benjamin Resner, XingChen Wang
  • Patent number: D769953
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: RETHINK ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Miri Bauman, Christopher John Smith, Bruce Blumberg, Matthew Knoll, Umberto Scarfogliero