Patents by Inventor James Frederick Kirkpatrick

James Frederick Kirkpatrick 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).

  • Obstruction management system for robots
    Patent number: 6810305
    Abstract: A system for mobile robots to detect obstructions. Obstructions include objects which may impair the or impede the mobility of the robot, as well as transitions from carpeted surfaces to hard surfaces, transitions from hard surfaces to carpet, or transitions between other types of flooring. The system includes a plow which may move underneath the obstruction, The obstruction may the be brushed aside, or rise to an elevation detectable by the robot. Upon detection, the robot may change its direction of movement or stop moving altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: James Frederick Kirkpatrick, Jr.
  • Home cleaning robot
    Patent number: 6459955
    Abstract: An autonomously movable cleaning robot comprising a platform and motive force to autonomously move the robot on a substantially horizontal surface having boundaries. The robot further has a computer processing unit for storing, receiving and transmitting data, and a cleaning implement operatively associated with the robot. The robot receives input data from an external source. The external source may be physical manipulation of the robot, remote control, or by triangulation from at least three external transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Eric Richard Bartsch, Charles William Fisher, Paul Amaat France, James Frederick Kirkpatrick, Gary Gordon Heaton, Thomas Charles Hortel, Arseni Velerevich Radomyselski, James Randy Stigall
  • Obstruction management system for robots
    Publication number: 20020116089
    Abstract: A system for mobile robots to detect obstructions. Obstructions include objects which may impair the or impede the mobility of the robot, as well as transitions from carpeted surfaces to hard surfaces, transitions from hard surfaces to carpet, or transitions between other types of flooring. The system includes a plow which may move underneath the obstruction, The obstruction may the be brushed aside, or rise to an elevation detectable by the robot. Upon detection, the robot may change its direction of movement or stop moving altogether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: James Frederick Kirkpatrick