Patents by Inventor James Philip Case
James Philip Case 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: 11898848Abstract: A visual positioning system for mobile devices includes at least one infrared camera, at least one infrared illumination source, and a processor that coordinates operation of the at least one camera and illumination sources. A flood IR infrared illumination source illuminates environmental objects for localization of the mobile device during a first camera exposure window, and a structured IR illumination source illuminate environmental objects for detection and mapping of obstacles during a second camera exposure window. A visual SLAM map is constructed with images obtained from a first camera, with a single map being useable for positioning and navigation across a variety of environmental lighting conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Labrador Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, James Philip Case
-
Patent number: 11768075Abstract: A visual positioning system for mobile devices includes at least one infrared camera, at least one infrared illumination source, and a processor that coordinates operation of the at least one camera and illumination sources. A flood IR infrared illumination source illuminates environmental objects for localization of the mobile device during a first camera exposure window, and a structured IR illumination source illuminate environmental objects for detection and mapping of obstacles during a second camera exposure window. A visual SLAM map is constructed with images obtained from a first camera, with a single map being useable for positioning and navigation across a variety of environmental lighting conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Labrador Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, James Philip Case
-
Publication number: 20220214172Abstract: A visual positioning system for mobile devices includes at least one infrared camera, at least one infrared illumination source, and a processor that coordinates operation of the at least one camera and illumination sources. A flood IR infrared illumination source illuminates environmental objects for localization of the mobile device during a first camera exposure window, and a structured IR illumination source illuminate environmental objects for detection and mapping of obstacles during a second camera exposure window. A visual SLAM map is constructed with images obtained from a first camera, with a single map being useable for positioning and navigation across a variety of environmental lighting conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, James Philip Case
-
Patent number: 11350810Abstract: A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael J. Dooley, James Philip Case, Nikolai Romanov
-
Patent number: 11287262Abstract: A visual positioning system for mobile devices includes at least one infrared camera, at least one infrared illumination source, and a processor that coordinates operation of the at least one camera and illumination sources. A flood IR infrared illumination source illuminates environmental objects for localization of the mobile device during a first camera exposure window, and a structured IR illumination source illuminate environmental objects for detection and mapping of obstacles during a second camera exposure window. A visual SLAM map is constructed with images obtained from a first camera, with a single map being useable for positioning and navigation across a variety of environmental lighting conditions.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Labrador Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, James Philip Case
-
Publication number: 20210378476Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning robot includes a body defining a forward drive direction, a drive system, a cleaning system, and a controller. The cleaning system includes a pad holder, a reservoir, a sprayer, and a cleaning system. The pad holder has a bottom surface for receiving a cleaning pad. The reservoir holds a volume of fluid, and the sprayer sprays the fluid forward the pad holder. The controller is in communication with the drive and cleaning systems. The controller executes a cleaning routine that includes driving in the forward direction a first distance to a first location, then driving in a reverse drive direction a second distance to a second location. From the second location, the robot sprays fluid in the forward drive direction but rearward the first location. The robot then drives in alternating forward and reverse drive directions while smearing the cleaning pad along the floor surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, James Philip Case
-
Patent number: 11052540Abstract: A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael S. Stout, Gabriel Francis Brisson, Enrico Di Bernardo, Paolo Pirjanian, Dhiraj Goel, James Philip Case, Michael Dooley
-
Publication number: 20210164785Abstract: A visual positioning system for mobile devices includes at least one infrared camera, at least one infrared illumination source, and a processor that coordinates operation of the at least one camera and illumination sources. A flood IR infrared illumination source illuminates environmental objects for localization of the mobile device during a first camera exposure window, and a structured IR illumination source illuminate environmental objects for detection and mapping of obstacles during a second camera exposure window. A visual SLAM map is constructed with images obtained from a first camera, with a single map being useable for positioning and navigation across a variety of environmental lighting conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2019Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, James Philip Case
-
Publication number: 20210053207Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Nikolai Romanov, Collin Eugene Johnson, James Philip Case, Dhiraj Goel, Steffen Gutmann, Michael J. Dooley
-
Patent number: 10766132Abstract: A method of cleaning a floor near a vertical surface with a mobile robot. The robot includes a cleaning assembly and a drive assembly having a first wheel and a second wheel. The method includes aligning the robot such that the first wheel and second wheel are configured to roll in a direction substantially parallel to the surface. The method includes driving the robot forward in a direction substantially parallel to the surface. The method further includes: i) turning the first wheel, proximate to the surface, with a first angular velocity, and ii) turning the second wheel, further from the surface, with a second angular velocity. The second angular velocity is greater than the first angular velocity. The robot pushes against the surface while sliding along the same surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Nikolai Romanov, Collin Eugene Johnson, James Philip Case, Dhiraj Goel, Steffen Gutmann, Michael Dooley
-
Patent number: 10583562Abstract: A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael S. Stout, Gabriel Francis Brisson, Enrico Di Bernardo, Paolo Pirjanian, Dhiraj Goel, James Philip Case, Michael Dooley
-
Publication number: 20190231163Abstract: A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, James Philip Case, Nikolai Romanov
-
Publication number: 20190152059Abstract: A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Michael S. Stout, Gabriel Francis Brisson, Enrico Di Bernardo, Paolo Pirjanian, Dhiraj Goel, James Philip Case, Michael Dooley
-
Patent number: 10258214Abstract: A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael J. Dooley, James Philip Case, Nikolai Romanov
-
Publication number: 20180092500Abstract: A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, James Philip Case, Nikolai Romanov
-
Patent number: 9895808Abstract: A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael S. Stout, Gabriel Francis Brisson, Enrico Di Bernardo, Paolo Pirjanian, Dhiraj Goel, James Philip Case, Michael Dooley
-
Patent number: 9801518Abstract: A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael J. Dooley, James Philip Case, Nikolai Romanov
-
Patent number: 9744670Abstract: Systems and methods for use of optical odometry sensor systems in a mobile robot. The optical odometry sensor system is positioned within a recessed structure on an underside of the mobile robot body and configured to output optical odometry data. The optical odometry sensor system includes an optical odometry camera that includes a telecentric lens configured to capture images of a tracking surface beneath the body and having a depth of field that provides a range of viewing distances at which a tracking surface is captured in focus from a first distance within the recessed structure to a second distance below the underside of the mobile robot body.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Nikolai Romanov, James Philip Case, Kenneth Griest, David O. Swett
-
Publication number: 20170197314Abstract: A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Michael S. Stout, Gabriel Francis Brisson, Enrico Di Bernardo, Paolo Pirjanian, Dhiraj Goel, James Philip Case, Michael Dooley
-
Publication number: 20160353960Abstract: A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, James Philip Case, Nikolai Romanov