Patents by Inventor Bruce Thompson

Bruce Thompson 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: 12565110
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: SEEGRID CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Publication number: 20260055325
    Abstract: Provided is a solids separation system. The solids separation system, in one aspect, includes a vertical/horizontal pressure vessel having an upper section and a lower section, or two side by side sections, as well as a dual-chamber configuration within the pressure vessel, wherein the lower chamber is configured for sand collection and expulsion, and the upper chamber is configured for gas extraction. The solids separation system, in accordance with this aspect, may further include a closed-loop design for the efficient sale of produced gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Inventor: Bruce Thompson
  • Patent number: 12479319
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Seegrid Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Publication number: 20250236498
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot may include a processor configured to employ exteroceptive and proprioceptive information. The processor may employ exteroceptive information to guide the robot. The processor may employ proprioceptive information to guide the robot's manipulation of an object within its environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Nathan Greco, Bruce Thompson, David Deutsch, Miguel Rodriguez, Adam Grusky, Brian Dunlavey
  • Publication number: 20250187886
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the inventive concepts, provided is an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), comprising: a pair of forks coupled to a carriage that is height adjustable within a mast; an object sensor coupled to the carriage and passively movable between a first position above the forks when the forks are lowered and a second position below the forks when the forks are raised, wherein the object sensor is configured to detect objects under the forks when the forks are raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2025
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Inventors: Bruce Thompson, Jacob Seal, Elijah Richter, Matt Heisel, Thomas Stimmel, Ben Tylenda, Pat Braun
  • Publication number: 20250178874
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the inventive concepts, provided is an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), comprising: a carriage actuation and feedback system configured to robotically control a carriage to control a height of a pair of forks; at least one sensor configured to acquire sensor data over multiple planes in a direction of the forks during actuation of the carriage that raises and lowers the forks; an infrastructure localization system configured to combine the sensor data from the multiple planes into dense point cloud data and identify an infrastructure from the dense point cloud data. A method of localizing infrastructure using dense point cloud data is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Bruce Thompson, Nathan Greco, Blane Rhoads, Gregory Kyle Jones, John Spletzer, Tom Panzarella
  • Patent number: 12269721
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the inventive concepts, provided is an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), comprising: a pair of forks coupled to a carriage that is height adjustable within a mast; an object sensor coupled to the carriage and passively movable between a first position above the forks when the forks are lowered and a second position below the forks when the forks are raised, wherein the object sensor is configured to detect objects under the forks when the forks are raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: SEEGRID CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce Thompson, Jacob Seal, Elijah Richter, Matt Heisel, Thomas Stimmel, Ben Tylenda, Pat Braun
  • Publication number: 20250100407
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Publication number: 20250076878
    Abstract: A transport vehicle, such as a vision guided vehicle, can comprise a drive portion constructed to facilitate movement of the transport vehicle and a load portion constructed to engage an object of interest. The load portion can comprise an object engagement apparatus and at least one sensor coupled to or disposed within a distal end of the object engagement apparatus, wherein the sensor can be at least a 2D sensor. The engagement apparatus can comprise forks, at least one fork having sensor coupled to or disposed within a fork tip. The 2D sensor can comprise a scanning LIDAR sensor arranged to collect information to identify a pickable pallet, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Chun Zhang, Nathan Greco, Adam Grusky, Bruce Thompson, Ed Butina, Jacob Seal, John Harrold, II, Ryan Young, Benjamin Schmidt, Andrew Tracy
  • Patent number: 12221000
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: SEEGRID CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Patent number: 12153431
    Abstract: A transport vehicle, such as a vision guided vehicle, can comprise a drive portion constructed to facilitate movement of the transport vehicle and a load portion constructed to engage an object of interest. The load portion can comprise an object engagement apparatus and at least one sensor coupled to or disposed within a distal end of the object engagement apparatus, wherein the sensor can be at least a 2D sensor. The engagement apparatus can comprise forks, at least one fork having sensor coupled to or disposed within a fork tip. The 2D sensor can comprise a scanning LIDAR sensor arranged to collect information to identify a pickable pallet, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: SEEGRID CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun Zhang, Nathan Greco, Adam Grusky, Bruce Thompson, Ed Butina, Jacob Seal, John Harrold, II, Ryan Young, Benjamin Schmidt, Andrew Tracy
  • Publication number: 20240336154
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Publication number: 20240308825
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the inventive concepts, provided is an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), comprising: a pair of forks coupled to a carriage that is height adjustable within a mast; an object sensor coupled to the carriage and passively movable between a first position above the forks when the forks are lowered and a second position below the forks when the forks are raised, wherein the object sensor is configured to detect objects under the forks when the forks are raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Bruce Thompson, Jacob Seal, Elijah Richter, Matt Heisel, Thomas Stimmel, Ben Tylenda, Pat Braun
  • Publication number: 20240262222
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Publication number: 20240239214
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Patent number: 11850959
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Seegrid Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Butina, Justin Cole, Jacob Seal, Bruce Thompson, Chun Zhang, Dustin Yautz, Mitchell Weiss
  • Publication number: 20230262902
    Abstract: A system for incorporating electronic functionality into a flexible layer includes a flexible printed circuit board having a spine portion and one or more legs in electronic communication with the spine portion. Multiple pads may be disposed on the flexible printed circuit board. The spine portion and the one or more legs may be structured and arranged to be disposed within one or more pockets of the flexible layer. The system may further include electronic devices, each one of which may be in electronic communication with at least one of the pads. In addition, the system may include a controller in electronic communication with at least one of the pads. The system may be characterized by an absence of any external hard-wire interfaces for communication external to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Jason Cox, Tairan Wang, Tsachi Avrahami, Charlotte Fairless, Jennifer Thornton, Mary Jane Schmuhl, Henry Cheung, Bruce Thompson, Emily Robertson
  • Publication number: 20230107320
    Abstract: In some implementations, a self-cleaning seat includes a cover layer with a photocatalyst; a light-emitting fiber layer including one or more light sources; a light-diffusing spacer configured to diffuse light emitted from the light-emitting fiber layer and positioned between the cover layer and the light-emitting fiber layer; and a triggering mechanism that activates a cleaning cycle by activating the one or more light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Lavinia Andreea DANIELESCU, Aditi MAHESHWARI, Mark Benjamin GREENSPAN, Michael REIN, Charlotte FAIRLESS, Frances LOGAN, Mary Jane SCHMUHL, Emily ROBERTSON, Mihai IBANESCU, Tong HENG, Bruce THOMPSON, Kristen MULHERIN
  • Publication number: 20220100195
    Abstract: A transport vehicle, such as a vision guided vehicle, can comprise a drive portion constructed to facilitate movement of the transport vehicle and a load portion constructed to engage an object of interest. The load portion can comprise an object engagement apparatus and at least one sensor coupled to or disposed within a distal end of the object engagement apparatus, wherein the sensor can be at least a 2D sensor. The engagement apparatus can comprise forks, at least one fork having sensor coupled to or disposed within a fork tip. The 2D sensor can comprise a scanning LIDAR sensor arranged to collect information to identify a pickable pallet, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Chun Zhang, Nathan Greco, Adam Grusky, Bruce Thompson, Ed Butina, Jacob Seal, John Harrold, II, Ryan Young, Benjamin Schmidt, Andrew Tracy
  • Patent number: D1135201
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Inventor: Bruce Thompson