Patents by Inventor Clinton J. Smith
Clinton J. Smith 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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Patent number: 11958747Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems of providing carbon nanotubes decorated with polymer coated metal nanoparticles. Then, annealing the metal coated carbon nanotubes to reduce a quantity of hydrophilic components of the polymer coating.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignees: SRI INTERNATIONAL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NASA, BAY SYSTEMS CONSULTING, INC.Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Beomseok Kim, Clinton J. Smith, Eric D. Cocker, Junhua Wei, David Eric Schwartz, Meyya Meyyappan, Rahul Pandey, Yong Zhang
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Publication number: 20240075815Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage device supported by the chassis and configured to provide electrical power to a prime mover, wherein activation of the prime mover selectively drives the refuse vehicle, a body for storing refuse therein supported by the chassis, a first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, a second first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, and a motor coupled to at least one of the body or the chassis and configured to drive the first hydraulic pump and drive the second hydraulic pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Jerrod Kappers, Vince Schad, Robert S. Messina, Christopher K. Yakes, Vincent Hoover, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Zachary L. Klein, John Beck, Brendan Chan, Skylar A. Wachter, Nader Nasr, Chad K. Smith, Logan Gary, Derek A. Wente, Shawn Naglik, Mike J. Bolton, Jacob Wallin, Quincy Wittman, Christopher J. Rukas, Dylan Hess, Jason Rice, Zhenyi Wei, Bashar Amin, Catherine Linsmeier, Joshua D. Rocholl, Dale Matsumoto
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Patent number: 11679418Abstract: A work cell and method for automatically separating objects disposed in 3D clusters includes dispensing the objects onto a horizontal conveying surface to form a 2D array, reforming the 2D array into a 1D stream in which the objects move in single-file in a predefined moving direction, utilizing a vision-based or other stationary sensing system to identify a selected target object in the 1D stream as the target object passes through an image capture (sensing) region, calculating trajectory data defining the target object's time-based position in the 1D stream, and then utilizing the trajectory data to control a robot arm or other object removal mechanism such that only the selected object is forcibly removed (e.g., swiped or picked-up) from the horizontal conveying surface. A continuous-loop-type conveying mechanism includes two parallel conveyor-belt-type conveying structures and associated belt-switching structures. An AI-powered vision system identifies new object shapes during preliminary learning phases.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Paulson, Nicholas L. Choi, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Laura Stelzner, Leo Keselman, Anthony Canalungo, Clinton J. Smith
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Patent number: 11642796Abstract: A human-like tactile perception apparatus for providing enhanced tactile information (feedback data) from an end-effector/gripper to the control circuit of an arm-type robotic system. The apparatus's base structure is attached to the gripper's finger and includes a flat/planar support plate that presses a pressure sensor array against a target object during operable interactions. The pressure sensor array generates pressure sensor data that indicates portions of the array contacted by surface features of the target object. A sensor data processing circuit generates tactile information in response to the pressure sensor data, and then transmits the tactile information to the robotic system's control circuit. An optional mezzanine connector extends through an opening in the support plate to pass pressure sensor data to the processing circuit. An encapsulating layer covers the pressure sensor array and transmits pressure waves generated by slipping objects to enhance the tactile information.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Lalau Keraly, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher A. Paulson, Bernard D. Casse, Matthew E. Shaffer
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Patent number: 11542103Abstract: An automated food production work cell includes a robotic system that utilizes a food-grade robotic gripper to transfer individual food items. The robotic gripper is constructed using food-grade materials and includes finger structures that are linearly movably connected by linear bearings to parallel guide rods and are independently driven by a non-contact actuating system to grasp targeted food items disposed on a first work surface, to hold the targeted food items while the robotic system moves the gripper to a second work surface, and to release the targeted food items onto the second work surface. Encoding and external sensing systems facilitate fully automated food transfer processes. Optional sensor arrays are disposed on tip portions of the finger structures to provide feedback data (e.g., grasping force/pressure). Two or more pairs of independently controlled finger structures are provided to facilitate the transfer of multiple food items during each transfer process.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Paulson, Nicholas L. Choi, Leo Keselman, Laura L. Sullivan, Kent A. Evans, Laura Stelzner, Clinton J. Smith
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Publication number: 20220331840Abstract: A work cell and method for automatically separating objects disposed in 3D clusters includes dispensing the objects onto a horizontal conveying surface to form a 2D array, reforming the 2D array into a 1D stream in which the objects move in single-file in a predefined moving direction, utilizing a vision-based or other stationary sensing system to identify a selected target object in the 1D stream as the target object passes through an image capture (sensing) region, calculating trajectory data defining the target object's time-based position in the 1D stream, and then utilizing the trajectory data to control a robot arm or other object removal mechanism such that only the selected object is forcibly removed (e.g., swiped or picked-up) from the horizontal conveying surface. A continuous-loop-type conveying mechanism includes two parallel conveyor-belt-type conveying structures and associated belt-switching structures. An AI-powered vision system identifies new object shapes during preliminary learning phases.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2021Publication date: October 20, 2022Applicant: RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Paulson, Nicholas L. Choi, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Laura Stelzner, Leo Keselman, Anthony Canalungo, Clinton J. Smith
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Patent number: 11433555Abstract: A robotic gripper (end effector) for an arm-type robotic system includes a hierarchical sensor architecture that utilizes a central data processing circuit to generate rich sensory tactile data in response to pressure, temperature, vibration and/or proximity sensor data generated by finger-mounted sensor groups in response to interactions between the robotic gripper and a target object during robotic system operations. The rich sensory tactile data is used to generate feedback signals that directly control finger actuators and/or tactile information that is supplied to the robotic system's control circuit. Sensor data processing circuits are configured to receive single-sensor data signals in parallel from the sensor groups, and to transmit corresponding finger-level sensor data signal on a serial bus/signal line to the central data processing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Clinton J. Smith, Christopher A. Paulson, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Bernard D. Casse
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Patent number: 11413760Abstract: A flex-rigid sensor apparatus for providing sensor data from sensors disposed on an end-effector/gripper to the control circuit of an arm-type robotic system. The apparatus includes piezo-type pressure sensors sandwiched between lower and upper PCB stack-up structures respectively fabricated using rigid PCB (e.g., FR-4) and flexible PCB (e.g., polyimide) manufacturing processes. Additional (e.g., temperature and proximity) sensors are mounted on the upper/flexible stack-up structure. A spacer structure is disposed between the two stack-up structures and includes an insulating material layer defining openings that accommodate the pressure sensors. Copper film layers are configured to provide Faraday cages around each pressure sensor. The pressure sensors, additional sensors and Faraday cages are connected to sensor data processing and control circuitry (e.g., analog-to-digital converter circuits) by way of signal traces formed in the lower and upper stack-up structures and in the spacer structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: RIOA Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Paulson, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Bernard D. Casse
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Patent number: 11383390Abstract: A robotic network includes multiple work cells that communicate with a cloud server using a network bus (e.g., the Internet). Each work cell includes an interface computer and a robotic system including a robot mechanism and a control circuit. Each robot mechanism includes an end effector/gripper having integral multimodal sensor arrays that measure physical parameter values (sensor data) during interactions between the end effector/gripper and target objects. The cloud server collects and correlates sensor data from all of the work cells to facilitate efficient diagnosis of problematic robotic operations (e.g., accidents/failures), and then automatically updates each work cell with improved operating system versions or AI models (e.g., including indicator parameter value sets and associated secondary robot control signals that may be used by each robot system to detect potential imminent robot accidents/failures during subsequent robot operations.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Matthew E. Shaffer, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher A. Paulson, Bernard D. Casse
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Patent number: 11273555Abstract: A multimodal sensing architecture utilizes an array of single sensor or multi-sensor groups (superpixels) to facilitate advanced object-manipulation and recognition tasks performed by mechanical end effectors in robotic systems. The single-sensors/superpixels are spatially arrayed over contact surfaces of the end effector fingers and include, e.g., pressure sensors and vibration sensors that facilitate the simultaneous detection of both static and dynamic events occurring on the end effector, and optionally include proximity sensors and/or temperature sensors. A readout circuit receives the sensor data from the superpixels and transmits the sensor data onto a shared sensor data bus.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc.Inventors: Bernard D. Casse, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Christopher A. Paulson
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Publication number: 20210253429Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems of providing carbon nanotubes decorated with polymer coated metal nanoparticles. Then, annealing the metal coated carbon nanotubes to reduce a quantity of hydrophilic components of the polymer coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicants: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the NASA, Bay Systems Consulting, Inc.Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Beomseok Kim, Clinton J. Smith, Eric D. Cocker, Junhua Wei, David Eric Schwartz, Meyya Meyyappan, Rahul Pandey, Yong Zhang
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Publication number: 20200306988Abstract: A robotic network includes multiple work cells that communicate with a cloud server using a network bus (e.g., the Internet). Each work cell includes an interface computer and a robotic system including a robot mechanism and a control circuit. Each robot mechanism includes an end effector/gripper having integral multimodal sensor arrays that measure physical parameter values (sensor data) during interactions between the end effector/gripper and target objects. The cloud server collects and correlates sensor data from all of the work cells to facilitate efficient diagnosis of problematic robotic operations (e.g., accidents/failures), and then automatically updates each work cell with improved operating system versions or AI models (e.g., including indicator parameter value sets and associated secondary robot control signals that may be used by each robot system to detect potential imminent robot accidents/failures during subsequent robot operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Robotik Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Matthew E. Shaffer, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher A. Paulson, Bernard D. Casse
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Publication number: 20200306979Abstract: A flex-rigid sensor apparatus for providing sensor data from sensors disposed on an end-effector/gripper to the control circuit of an arm-type robotic system. The apparatus includes piezo-type pressure sensors sandwiched between lower and upper PCB stack-up structures respectively fabricated using rigid PCB (e.g., FR-4) and flexible PCB (e.g., polyimide) manufacturing processes. Additional (e.g., temperature and proximity) sensors are mounted on the upper/flexible stack-up structure. A spacer structure is disposed between the two stack-up structures and includes an insulating material layer defining openings that accommodate the pressure sensors. Copper film layers are configured to provide Faraday cages around each pressure sensor. The pressure sensors, additional sensors and Faraday cages are connected to sensor data processing and control circuitry (e.g., analog-to-digital converter circuits) by way of signal traces formed in the lower and upper stack-up structures and in the spacer structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Robotik Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Paulson, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Bernard D. Casse
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Publication number: 20200306986Abstract: A human-like tactile perception apparatus for providing enhanced tactile information (feedback data) from an end-effector/gripper to the control circuit of an arm-type robotic system. The apparatus's base structure is attached to the gripper's finger and includes a flat/planar support plate that presses a pressure sensor array against a target object during operable interactions. The pressure sensor array generates pressure sensor data that indicates portions of the array contacted by surface features of the target object. A sensor data processing circuit generates tactile information in response to the pressure sensor data, and then transmits the tactile information to the robotic system's control circuit. An optional mezzanine connector extends through an opening in the support plate to pass pressure sensor data to the processing circuit. An encapsulating layer covers the pressure sensor array and transmits pressure waves generated by slipping objects to enhance the tactile information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Robotik Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Lalau Keraly, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher A. Paulson, Bernard D. Casse, Matthew E. Shaffer
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Publication number: 20200306993Abstract: A robotic gripper (end effector) for an arm-type robotic system includes a hierarchical sensor architecture that utilizes a central data processing circuit to generate rich sensory tactile data in response to pressure, temperature, vibration and/or proximity sensor data generated by finger-mounted sensor groups in response to interactions between the robotic gripper and a target object during robotic system operations. The rich sensory tactile data is used to generate feedback signals that directly control finger actuators and/or tactile information that is supplied to the robotic system's control circuit. Sensor data processing circuits are configured to receive single-sensor data signals in parallel from the sensor groups, and to transmit corresponding finger-level sensor data signal on a serial bus/signal line to the central data processing circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Robotik Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Clinton J. Smith, Christopher A. Paulson, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Bernard D. Casse
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Publication number: 20200094412Abstract: A multimodal sensing architecture utilizes an array of single sensor or multi-sensor groups (superpixels) to facilitate advanced object-manipulation and recognition tasks performed by mechanical end effectors in robotic systems. The single-sensors/superpixels are spatially arrayed over contact surfaces of the end effector fingers and include, e.g., pressure sensors and vibration sensors that facilitate the simultaneous detection of both static and dynamic events occurring on the end effector, and optionally include proximity sensors and/or temperature sensors. A readout circuit receives the sensor data from the superpixels and transmits the sensor data onto a shared sensor data bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: Robotik Innovations Inc.Inventors: Bernard D. Casse, Clinton J. Smith, Christopher Lalau Keraly, Matthew E. Shaffer, Christopher A. Paulson
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Patent number: 10031040Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for estimating a location of a gas leak, based on machine learning from forward gas concentration data provided by an analog or scale model including a gas source. The system improves significantly over previous systems by providing high quality, physically accurate forward modeling data inexpensively. During operation, the system configures an aerosol source at a first location to emit a gaseous aerosol. The system then configures a laser source to illuminate the aerosol with a laser sheet. The system may then obtain an image of a reflection of the laser sheet from the aerosol. The system may then analyze the image to quantify a three-dimensional concentration distribution of the aerosol. The system may then estimate, based on solving an inverse problem and an observed second gas concentration, a second location of a second gas source.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Clinton J. Smith, Bhaskar Saha, Victor A. Beck, David E. Schwartz