Patents by Inventor Ladd T. Johnson

Ladd T. Johnson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240315792
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes cable pairs respectively wound around input spindles and connected to actuate degrees of freedom of an instrument shaft structure. The cables may connect so that rotating the input spindles actuates corresponding degrees of freedom. First pulleys in the instrument may receive first cables from the input spindles and redirect the first cables toward the instrument shaft, and second pulleys may receive second cables from the input spindles and redirect the second cables toward the instrument shaft. In one configuration, the first and second pulleys are respectively mounted at first and second levels, and the second pulleys redirect the second cables through the first level. Additionally or alternatively, one level of cables may cross while the other level of cables does not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Bram Gilbert Antoon LAMBRECHT, S. Christopher ANDERSON, Ladd T. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 11950873
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes cable pairs respectively wound around input spindles and connected to actuate degrees of freedom of an instrument shaft structure. The cables may connect so that rotating the input spindles actuates corresponding degrees of freedom. First pulleys in the instrument may receive first cables from the input spindles and redirect the first cables toward the instrument shaft, and second pulleys may receive second cables from the input spindles and redirect the second cables toward the instrument shaft. In one configuration, the first and second pulleys are respectively mounted at first and second levels, and the second pulleys redirect the second cables through the first level. Additionally or alternatively, one level of cables may cross while the other level of cables does not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Bram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht, S. Christopher Anderson, Ladd T. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220071727
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes cable pairs respectively wound around input spindles and connected to actuate degrees of freedom of an instrument shaft structure. The cables may connect so that rotating the input spindles actuates corresponding degrees of freedom. First pulleys in the instrument may receive first cables from the input spindles and redirect the first cables toward the instrument shaft, and second pulleys may receive second cables from the input spindles and redirect the second cables toward the instrument shaft. In one configuration, the first and second pulleys are respectively mounted at first and second levels, and the second pulleys redirect the second cables through the first level. Additionally or alternatively, one level of cables may cross while the other level of cables does not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc
    Inventors: Bram Gilbert Antoon LAMBRECHT, S. Christopher ANDERSON, Ladd T. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 11207145
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes cable pairs respectively wound around input spindles and connected to actuate degrees of freedom of an instrument shaft structure. The cables may connect so that rotating the input spindles actuates corresponding degrees of freedom. First pulleys in the instrument may receive first cables from the input spindles and redirect the first cables toward the instrument shaft, and second pulleys may receive second cables from the input spindles and redirect the second cables toward the instrument shaft. In one configuration, the first and second pulleys are respectively mounted at first and second levels, and the second pulleys redirect the second cables through the first level. Additionally or alternatively, one level of cables may cross while the other level of cables does not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Bram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht, S. Christopher Anderson, Ladd T. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190307522
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes cable pairs respectively wound around input spindles and connected to actuate degrees of freedom of an instrument shaft structure. The cables may connect so that rotating the input spindles actuates corresponding degrees of freedom. First pulleys in the instrument may receive first cables from the input spindles and redirect the first cables toward the instrument shaft, and second pulleys may receive second cables from the input spindles and redirect the second cables toward the instrument shaft. In one configuration, the first and second pulleys are respectively mounted at first and second levels, and the second pulleys redirect the second cables through the first level. Additionally or alternatively, one level of cables may cross while the other level of cables does not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Bram Gilbert Antoon LAMBRECHT, Christopher S. ANDERSON, Ladd T. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 7453260
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Patent number: 7259548
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Patent number: 7180284
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Patent number: 7098649
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Patent number: 7002337
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Patent number: 6861859
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contracts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Publication number: 20040263153
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Publication number: 20040232928
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Patent number: 6781394
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom
  • Patent number: 6771060
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Electroglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Boyle, Wayne E. Richter, Ladd T. Johnson, Lawrence A. Tom