Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Linnell

Jeffrey Linnell 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: 10245731
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving position data indicative of position of a demonstration tool. Based on the received position data, the method further includes determining a motion path of the demonstration tool, wherein the motion path comprises a sequence of positions of the demonstration tool. The method additionally includes determining a replication control path for a robotic device, where the replication control path includes one or more robot movements that cause the robotic device to move a robot tool through a motion path that corresponds to the motion path of the demonstration tool. The method also includes providing for display of a visual simulation of the one or more robot movements within the replication control path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Linnell
  • Patent number: 10201903
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to punch-in transitions to smoothly transition operation of parts of a robotic system from control tracks to real-time input, such as to smoothly transition a control track rotating a knob at a handheld controller to real-time input received at the handheld controller. Similarly, example implementations relate to punch-out transitions to smoothly transition operation of parts of a robotic system from real-time input to control tracks, such as to smoothly transition from the real-time input received at a handheld controller to a control track rotating a knob at a handheld controller. In particular, an example system may include a handheld haptic controller, a control system, and a robotic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Anthony Sean Jules
  • Patent number: 10191560
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a haptic hand-holdable controller configured with throttle functionality. An example device may take the form of a haptic controller, which senses tactile information and provides force feedback. The haptic hand-holdable controller may implement a throttle where a motor varies feedback to the hand-holdable controller to simulate a throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Linnell
  • Patent number: 10118343
    Abstract: An example fabrication system includes a light source, a resin container, and a base plate on which resin is cured using the light source so as to build up an object one layer at a time. The disclosed base plate includes a build surface and an anchor channel that extends into the base plate from the build surface. The anchor channel is a recess in the base plate configured to have a narrow width that is closer to an opening to the build surface than a broad width. The base plate can also have a light source that emits light into the anchor channel to cure resin within the anchor channel. Resin anchors cured within the anchor channel to conform to the anchor channel resist being extracted, and an object formed on the build surface remains anchored during fabrication via adhesion to the resin anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Brandon Kruysman, Jonathan Proto
  • Patent number: 10063818
    Abstract: Example embodiments may relate to methods and systems for providing a higher-resolution segment within a larger lower-resolution projection onto a projection surface. For example, the system may receive pose data corresponding to a viewing location relative to the projection surface. The system may then determine, based on the pose data, a target portion of an image frame of image data. As a result, the system may cause a first projector to project at least the target portion onto the projection surface and cause a second projector to project at least a remaining portion of the image frame of the image data onto the projection surface. The projections of the target portion and the remaining portion may collectively provide a complete projection of the image data on the projection surface and a projection-surface resolution of the target portion may be higher than a projection-surface resolution of the remaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Linnell
  • Publication number: 20180161987
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving position data indicative of position of a demonstration tool. Based on the received position data, the method further includes determining a motion path of the demonstration tool, wherein the motion path comprises a sequence of positions of the demonstration tool. The method additionally includes determining a replication control path for a robotic device, where the replication control path includes one or more robot movements that cause the robotic device to move a robot tool through a motion path that corresponds to the motion path of the demonstration tool. The method also includes providing for display of a visual simulation of the one or more robot movements within the replication control path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey Linnell
  • Patent number: 9993924
    Abstract: Example systems and methods may allow for closed-loop control of robotic operation. One example method includes receiving input data that identifies data sources to monitor and indicates adjustments to make in response to deviations by at least one of the data sources from at least one predicted state during subsequent execution of sequences of operations by robotic devices, receiving data streams from the data sources during execution of the sequences of operations by the robotic devices, identifying a deviation by one of the data sources from a predicted state for which the received input data indicates adjustments to the sequences of operations for the robotic devices, providing instructions to the robotic devices to execute the adjusted sequences of operations, and providing instructions to a second computing device to update a visual simulation of the robotic devices based on the adjusted sequences of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 9987753
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a controller system having a moveable member. In particular, the controller system may include a rotatable knob having a curved surface, at least one motor that is operable to apply torque to the rotatable knob, a curved touchpad arranged to sense touch gestures on the curved surface, and a moveable member that is mechanically adjustable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the moveable member is coupled to the rotatable knob and extends radially from the curved surface along a radial axis, such that application of a force perpendicular to the radial axis to the moveable member causes rotation of the rotatable knob. While in the second position, the moveable member provides accessibility to the curved surface of the rotatable knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Tobias Kinnebrew
  • Publication number: 20180111273
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a haptic hand-holdable controller. In particular, an example device may take the form of a haptic controller, which senses tactile information and provides force feedback for a more intuitive user experience. The force feedback may indicate a state of the device that is being controlled. An example haptic handheld controller may be utilized to manipulate data input to a robot, a tablet computer, and/or any other type of computing device. In an example embodiment, the haptic handheld controller may be such that the controller indicates to the user what manipulation of different types of data feels like, for example, by using operating modes for the haptic handheld controller where a motor varies feedback to the handheld controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Anthony Sean Jules
  • Patent number: 9925669
    Abstract: An example method includes receiving position data indicative of position of a demonstration tool. Based on the received position data, the method further includes determining a motion path of the demonstration tool, wherein the motion path comprises a sequence of positions of the demonstration tool. The method additionally includes determining a replication control path for a robotic device, where the replication control path includes one or more robot movements that cause the robotic device to move a robot tool through a motion path that corresponds to the motion path of the demonstration tool. The method also includes providing for display of a visual simulation of the one or more robot movements within the replication control path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Linnell
  • Patent number: 9915937
    Abstract: Example systems and methods may allow for parallel operation of robotic devices within a workcell, such as industrial robots controlled to manufacture an output product. One example method includes receiving ordered sequences of operations for a plurality of corresponding robotic devices, determining time-based sequences of operations for each of the robotic devices, where a time-based sequence of operations indicates positions within the workcell at corresponding timesteps of a global timeline, determining one or more potential collisions involving the robotic devices that would result from parallel execution of the time-based sequences of operations within the workcell, modifying the time-based sequences of operations in order to prevent the one or more potential collisions, and providing instructions for parallel execution of the modified time-based sequences of operations at timesteps of the global timeline by the robotic devices within the workcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne
  • Publication number: 20180050454
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a computing device configured to operate a robotic system. In particular, the device receives input data that is generated by a hand-holdable controller including a knob, where the knob includes touch sensors arranged to detect touch on surfaces of the knob. Based on the input data, the device detects that the controller is within a first threshold distance from a first component of the robotic system and responsively operates the first component of the robotic system based on the input data. The device then receives subsequent input data that is generated by the controller. Based on the subsequent input data, the device subsequently detects that the controller is within a second threshold distance from a second component of the robotic system and responsively operates the second component of the robotic system based on the subsequent input data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Anthony Sean Jules
  • Publication number: 20180024516
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a haptic hand-holdable controller configured with throttle functionality. An example device may take the form of a haptic controller, which senses tactile information and provides force feedback. The haptic hand-holdable controller may implement a throttle where a motor varies feedback to the hand-holdable controller to simulate a throttle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey Linnell
  • Patent number: 9873223
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to shifting a curing location during a three-dimensional (3D) printing procedure. A system may control components of a 3D printer to form a first layer of the 3D structure from resin in a first area of a resin container. The components may include: (i) a base plate and (ii) light source(s) operable to emit radiation that cures resin. After formation of the first layer, the system may move the resin container with respect to the base plate such that a second layer of the 3D structure can be formed in a second area of the resin container. The second area and the first area may be at least partially non-overlapping. The system may then control the components of the 3D printer to form the second layer of the 3D structure from resin in the second area of the resin container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Brandon Kruysman, Jonathan Proto
  • Patent number: 9862099
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a haptic hand-holdable controller. In particular, an example device may take the form of a haptic controller, which senses tactile information and provides force feedback for a more intuitive user experience. The force feedback may indicate a state of the device that is being controlled. An example haptic handheld controller may be utilized to manipulate data input to a robot, a tablet computer, and/or any other type of computing device. In an example embodiment, the haptic handheld controller may be such that the controller indicates to the user what manipulation of different types of data feels like, for example, by using operating modes for the haptic handheld controller where a motor varies feedback to the handheld controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Anthony Sean Jules
  • Publication number: 20180004187
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for runtime control of robotic devices during a construction process. One example method includes determining at least one sequence of robot operations corresponding to at least one robot actor, causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one sequence of robot operations during a first time period, receiving an interrupt signal from a mobile computing device indicating a modification to the at least one sequence of robot operations, where the mobile computing device is configured to display a digital interface including one or more robot parameters describing the at least one robot actor and one or more tool parameters describing operating characteristics of at least one physical tool, and causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one modified sequence of robot operations during a second time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 9841749
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for runtime control of robotic devices during a construction process. One example method includes determining at least one sequence of robot operations corresponding to at least one robot actor, causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one sequence of robot operations during a first time period, receiving an interrupt signal from a mobile computing device indicating a modification to the at least one sequence of robot operations, where the mobile computing device is configured to display a digital interface including one or more robot parameters describing the at least one robot actor and one or more tool parameters describing operating characteristics of at least one physical tool, and causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one modified sequence of robot operations during a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Bot & Dolly, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 9833907
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a computing device configured to operate a robotic system. In particular, the device receives input data that is generated by a hand-holdable controller including a knob, where the knob includes touch sensors arranged to detect touch on surfaces of the knob. Based on the input data, the device detects that the controller is within a first threshold distance from a first component of the robotic system and responsively operates the first component of the robotic system based on the input data. The device then receives subsequent input data that is generated by the controller. Based on the subsequent input data, the device subsequently detects that the controller is within a second threshold distance from a second component of the robotic system and responsively operates the second component of the robotic system based on the subsequent input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Anthony Sean Jules
  • Patent number: 9808992
    Abstract: An example three-dimensional printer system includes (a) a resin container, (b) a base plate, (c) a light source arranged below the resin container, where the light source is operable to emit electromagnetic radiation that causes resin in the resin container to cure, (d) a robotic device having the base plate attached thereto, wherein the robotic device positions the base plate above the resin container and is operable to move the base plate with at least two degrees of freedom, such that a build volume of the three-dimensional printer system extends beyond the edges of the resin container, and (e) a control system that is operable to (i) receive data specifying a three-dimensional structure and (ii) generate control signals that coordinate movement of the base plate by the robotic device and operation of the light source to form the three-dimensional structure from layers of resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Jonathan Proto, Brandon Kruysman
  • Patent number: 9811066
    Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a haptic hand-holdable controller configured with throttle functionality. An example device may take the form of a haptic controller, which senses tactile information and provides force feedback. The haptic hand-holdable controller may implement a throttle where a motor varies feedback to the hand-holdable controller to simulate a throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Linnell