Patents by Inventor Jim Holcomb

Jim Holcomb 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).

  • Sentry robot system
    Patent number: 7054716
    Abstract: A sentry robot system and method for operating the system is provided. In one embodiment, the robot system includes at least one functional robot with one or more environmental sensors and at least one navigator/controller platform. In another embodiment, the robot system includes one or more functional robots, one or more environmental sensors associated with at least one of the functional robots, and one or more navigator/controller platforms. The navigator/controller platform in this embodiment includes a receiver, a controller, a memory, and a transmitter. In one embodiment, the method includes creating an image map of the environment from environment data, periodically moving the functional robot to predetermined locations, collecting new environment data using the optical image sensor at each predetermined location, and comparing the new environment data to corresponding locations in the image map, and periodically determining if intervention is required due to changed conditions within the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Robert N. McKee, Jim Holcomb
  • Sentry robot system
    Publication number: 20040073337
    Abstract: A sentry robot system and method for operating the system is provided. In one embodiment, the robot system includes at least one functional robot with one or more environmental sensors and at least one navigator/controller platform. In another embodiment, the robot system includes one or more functional robots, one or more environmental sensors associated with at least one of the functional robots, and one or more navigator/controller platforms. The navigator/controller platform in this embodiment includes a receiver, a controller, a memory, and a transmitter. In one embodiment, the method includes creating an image map of the environment from environment data, periodically moving the functional robot to predetermined locations, collecting new environment data using the optical image sensor at each predetermined location, and comparing the new environment data to corresponding locations in the image map, and periodically determining if intervention is required due to changed conditions within the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Royal Appliance
    Inventors: Robert N. McKee, Jim Holcomb