Patents by Inventor Lance L. Andrus

Lance L. Andrus 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: 8776977
    Abstract: A drive system for each arm of a mobile robot, each drive system including a drive motor and an adjustable clutch system interconnected between its associated arm and the drive motor and having a high friction locked position for enabling direct drive of the arm by the drive motor and a reduced friction slip position for enabling manual movement of the associated arm without back-driving the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Lance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano
  • Patent number: 8602134
    Abstract: A modular mobile robot with a chassis including a power source housed therein. Right and left hand track modules are each removeably coupled to the robot chassis. Each track module includes a side plate, at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate, a motor for driving the drive wheel, at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler. A turret assembly with its own turret drive subsystem is removeably coupled to the robot chassis via a quick release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano, Scott R. Albin
  • Publication number: 20120211287
    Abstract: A modular mobile robot with a chassis including a power source housed therein. Right and left hand track modules are each removeably coupled to the robot chassis. Each track module includes a side plate, at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate, a motor for driving the drive wheel, at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler. A turret assembly with its own turret drive subsystem is removeably coupled to the robot chassis via a quick release mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Lance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano, Scott R. Albin
  • Patent number: 8201649
    Abstract: A modular mobile robot with a chassis including a power source housed therein. Right and left hand track modules are each removeably coupled to the robot chassis. Each track module includes a side plate, at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate, a motor for driving the drive wheel, at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler. A turret assembly with its own turret drive subsystem is removeably coupled to the robot chassis via a quick release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano, Scott R. Albin
  • Publication number: 20120073930
    Abstract: A drive system for each arm of a mobile robot, each drive system including a drive motor and an adjustable clutch system interconnected between its associated arm and the drive motor and having a high friction locked position for enabling direct drive of the arm by the drive motor and a reduced friction slip position for enabling manual movement of the associated arm without back-driving the drive motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Lance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano
  • Publication number: 20110005847
    Abstract: A modular mobile robot with a chassis including a power source housed therein. Right and left hand track modules are each removeably coupled to the robot chassis. Each track module includes a side plate, at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate, a motor for driving the drive wheel, at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler. A turret assembly with its own turret drive subsystem is removeably coupled to the robot chassis via a quick release mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Lance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano, Scott R. Albin
  • Patent number: 6165340
    Abstract: A shield is applied to a permeable core in a predetermined pattern, where the predetermined pattern covers less than the entire surface area of the permeable core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Lance L. Andrus, Cruz R. Calderon, Craig R. Davidson, Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 6159772
    Abstract: A method for soldering a first component having a metal surface to a second component having a metal surface includes holding the metal surface of the first component in a position above a placement area on the metal surface of the second component to establish a gap between the surfaces. The method further includes reflowing solder within the gap. A structure including a thermally conductive baseplate, an electrical insulator attached to the baseplate, and a metallic shield mounted on the insulator. The structure also includes an integrated power device having a power-dissipating electronic device, and a first metal layer connected to the shield through a solder joint. A substrate includes an aperture, and the integrated power device is mounted with the power-dissipating device sitting within the aperture. The substrate also includes a conductive run electrically connected to a second metal layer of the integrated power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Robert E. Belland, George J. Ead, Fred M. Finnemore, Lance L. Andrus
  • Patent number: 6143157
    Abstract: A shield is applied to a permeable core in a predetermined pattern, where the predetermined pattern covers less than the entire surface area of the permeable core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Lance L. Andrus, Cruz R. Calderon, Craig R. Davidson, Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 6119923
    Abstract: A method for soldering a first component having a metal surface to a second component having a metal surface includes holding the metal surface of the first component in a position above a placement area on the metal surface of the second component to establish a gap between the surfaces. The method further includes reflowing solder within the gap.A structure including a thermally conductive baseplate, an electrical insulator attached to the baseplate, and a metallic shield mounted on the insulator. The structure also includes an integrated power device having a power-dissipating electronic device, and a first metal layer connected to the shield through a solder joint. A substrate includes an aperture, and the integrated power device is mounted with the power-dissipating device sitting within the aperture. The substrate also includes a conductive run electrically connected to a second metal layer of the integrated power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Robert E. Belland, George J. Ead, Fred M. Finnemore, Lance L. Andrus
  • Patent number: 6096981
    Abstract: A structure including a thermally conductive baseplate, an electrical insulator attached to the baseplate, and a metallic shield mounted on the insulator is set forth. The structure also includes an integrated power device having a power-dissipating electronic device, and a first metal layer connected to the shield through a solder joint. A substrate includes an aperture, and the integrated power device is mounted with the power-dissipating device sitting within the aperture. The substrate also includes a conductive run electrically connected to a second metal layer of the integrated power device. A further structure including an electrical conductor and a sheet of conductive material including a punt soldered to the electrical conductor is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Robert E. Belland, George J. Ead, Fred M. Finnemore, Lance L. Andrus
  • Patent number: 5987740
    Abstract: A heat generating component is encapsulated within an encapsulant. A window is made in the encapsulant to expose a heat dissipating surface of the component and a heat sinking device is attached to the heat dissipating surface of the heat generating component. The window is formed using a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Lance L. Andrus, Jeffrey A. Curhan
  • Patent number: 5906310
    Abstract: A method for soldering a first component having a metal surface to a second component having a metal surface includes holding the metal surface of the first component in a position above a placement area on the metal surface of the second component to establish a gap between the surfaces. The method further includes reflowing solder within the gap.A structure including a thermally conductive baseplate, an electrical insulator attached to the baseplate, and a metallic shield mounted on the insulator. The structure also includes an integrated power device having a power-dissipating electronic device, and a first metal layer connected to the shield through a solder joint. A substrate includes an aperture, and the integrated power device is mounted with the power-dissipating device sitting within the aperture. The substrate also includes a conductive run electrically connected to a second metal layer of the integrated power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Robert E. Belland, George J. Ead, Fred M. Finnemore, Lance L. Andrus
  • Patent number: 5808358
    Abstract: A method for soldering a first component having a metal surface to a second component having a metal surface includes holding the metal surface of the first component in a position above a placement area on the metal surface of the second component to establish a gap between the surfaces. The method further includes reflowing solder within the gap.A structure including a thermally conductive baseplate, an electrical insulator attached to the baseplate, and a metallic shield mounted on the insulator. The structure also includes an integrated power device having a power-dissipating electronic device, and a first metal layer connected to the shield through a solder joint. A substrate includes an aperture, and the integrated power device is mounted with the power-dissipating device sitting within the aperture. The substrate also includes a conductive run electrically connected to a second metal layer of the integrated power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: VLT Corporation
    Inventors: Patrizio Vinciarelli, Robert E. Belland, George J. Ead, Fred M. Finnemore, Lance L. Andrus