Patents by Inventor Marcus R. Williams
Marcus R. Williams 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).
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Patent number: 12171383Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot detection system includes an emitter configured to emit a directed beam, a detector configured to detect the directed beam and a controller configured to direct the robot in response to a signal detected by the detector. In some examples, the detection system detects a stasis condition of the robot. In some examples, the detection system detects a wall and can follow the wall in response to the detected signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane L. Gilbert, Jr., Marcus R. Williams, Andrea M. Okerholm, Elaine H. Kristant, Sheila A. Longo, Daniel E. Kee, Marc D. Strauss
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Patent number: 11930976Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
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Publication number: 20240074560Abstract: A system, device and method for nail care is provided. The nail care system includes a shaping system, a polish removal system and/or a cuticle management system; a vision system; a nail polish application system; and a mobility system. The nail system may further include an accelerated drying system, a hand massage system, a nail identification/diagnosis/estimation of conditions system, an enclosure, a hand/foot rest system, a computer software system, a computer hardware system, a cartridge/pod system, and a multi-tool system. Related apparatuses, techniques and articles are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Alexander Shashou, Justin Effron, Gabe Greeley, Marcus R. Williams, Margaret Mathieu, Lucile Driscoll, Lu Lyu, Charles C. Shortlidge, Peter Duerst, Douglas Stewart, Chris Casey, Ndungu Muturi, Ryan Wood, Zhi Teoh, Harald Quintus-Bosz, Jesse Gray, Matt Berlin, Juhi Kalra, Christine Noh, Oliver Zhang, Will Burke, Chris Evans, Allison Tse, Anthony Parker, Eric Maxwell, Genevieve Laing
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Patent number: 11860638Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot can include a robot body, a bumper, and a bumper impact system. The bumper can be connected to and supported by the robot body. The bumper impact system can include a first sensor connected to the body in a first orientation with respect to the body and the bumper. The bumper impact system can include a second sensor connected to the body in a second orientation with respect to the body and the bumper different from the first orientation. The first sensor and the second sensor can together be configured to sense an impact region of the bumper based on a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper relative to the robot body.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Dexter Bautista, Isaac Fowler, Andrew Graziani, Marcus R. Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Erik Schembor
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Publication number: 20230277028Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
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Patent number: 11589724Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
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Patent number: 11498438Abstract: A surface treatment robot includes a chassis having forward and rear ends and a drive system carried by the chassis. The drive system includes right and left driven wheels and is configured to maneuver the robot over a cleaning surface. The robot includes a vacuum assembly, a collection volume, a supply volume, an applicator, and a wetting element, each carried by the chassis. The wetting element engages the cleaning surface to distribute a cleaning liquid applied to the surface by the applicator. The wetting element distributes the cleaning liquid along at least a portion of the cleaning surface when the robot is driven in a forward direction. The wetting element is arranged substantially forward of a transverse axis defined by the right and left driven wheels, and the wetting element slidably supports at least about ten percent of the mass of the robot above the cleaning surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane L. Gilbert, Jr., Marcus R. Williams, Andrea M. Okerholm Huttlin, Elaine H. Kristant, Sheila A. Longo, Daniel E. Kee, Marc D. Strauss
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Publication number: 20220257080Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body defining a forward drive direction, a controller supported by the robot body, a drive supporting the robot body and configured to maneuver the robot across a surface in response to commands from the controller, a pad holder disposed on an underside of the robot body and configured to retain a removable cleaning pad during operation of the cleaning robot; and a pad sensor arranged to sense a feature of a cleaning pad held by the pad holder and generate a corresponding signal. The controller is responsive to the signal generated by the pad sensor, and configured to control the robot according to a cleaning mode selected from a set of multiple robot cleaning modes as a function of the signal generated by the pad sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Daniel Foran, Marcus R. Williams, Joe Johnson, Andrew Graziani
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Publication number: 20220009363Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot detection system includes an emitter configured to emit a directed beam, a detector configured to detect the directed beam and a controller configured to direct the robot in response to a signal detected by the detector. In some examples, the detection system detects a stasis condition of the robot. In some examples, the detection system detects a wall and can follow the wall in response to the detected signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Duane L. Gilbert, Jr., Marcus R. Williams, Andrea M. Okerholm, Elaine H. Kristant, Sheila A. Longo, Daniel E. Kee, Marc D. Strauss
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Patent number: 11058276Abstract: The present disclosure provides a base station for receiving a mobile cleaning robot including a docking structure. The docking structure includes a horizontal surface and at least two electrical charging contacts, each of the electrical charging contacts having a contact surface positioned above the horizontal surface. The base station also includes a platform that is connectable to the docking structure. The platform includes a raised rear surface having a front portion and a rear portion, two wheel wells located in the front portion of the raised rear surface of the platform, and a plurality of raised surface features forward of the raised rear surface configured to support an underside portion of the mobile cleaning robot.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Levi Fox, Marcus R. Williams, Yanhan Li, Jason Jeffrey Suchman, Lucile Driscoll
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Patent number: 11058204Abstract: A system, device and method for nail care is provided. The nail care system includes a shaping system, a polish removal system and/or a cuticle management system; a vision system; a nail polish application system; and a mobility system. The nail system may further include an accelerated drying system, a hand massage system, a nail identification/diagnosis/estimation of conditions system, an enclosure, a hand/foot rest system, a computer software system, a computer hardware system, a cartridge/pod system, and a multi-tool system. Related apparatuses, techniques and articles are also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: NailPro, Inc.Inventors: Alexander Shashou, Justin Effron, Marcus R. Williams, Margaret Mathieu, Lucile Driscoll, Lu Lyu, Charles C. Shortlidge, Peter Duerst, Douglas Stewart, Chris Casey, Ndungu Muturi, Ryan Wood, Zhi Teoh, Harald Quintusz-Bosz, Jesse Gray, Matt Berlin, Juhi Kalra, Christine Noh, Oliver Zhang, Will Burke, Chris Evans, Allison Tse, Anthony Parker, Eric Maxwell, Genevieve Laing, Gabe Greeley
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Patent number: 11027580Abstract: A wheel for an autonomous cleaning robot that maneuvers the robot on a floor surface includes a tire having first and second opposing outer edges and a middle portion having a tread pattern between the first and second outer edges, the tread pattern comprising a plurality of raised tread having trenches therebetween. Each of the plurality of raised tread includes a first raised tread portion extending from the first outer edge to the middle portion and substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer edges; a second raised tread portion extending at an angle away from the first raised tread portion; and a third raised tread portion extending from the second raised tread portion to the second outer edge and substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer edges, the third raised tread portion being laterally offset from the first raised tread portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Christopher Robin Grace, Lindsay Louise Wright, Timothy James Haughton, Marcus R. Williams, John Reimels, Timothy William Fleck
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Patent number: 11006807Abstract: The present disclosure provides a base station for receiving a mobile cleaning robot including a docking structure. The docking structure includes a horizontal surface and at least two electrical charging contacts, each of the electrical charging contacts having a contact surface positioned above the horizontal surface. The base station also includes a platform that is connectable to the docking structure. The platform includes a raised rear surface having a front portion and a rear portion, two wheel wells located in the front portion of the raised rear surface of the platform, and a plurality of raised surface features forward of the raised rear surface configured to support an underside portion of the mobile cleaning robot.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Levi Fox, Marcus R. Williams, Yanhan Li, Jason Jeffrey Suchman, Lucile Driscoll
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Publication number: 20210120935Abstract: A system, device and method for nail care is provided. The nail care system includes a shaping system, a polish removal system and/or a cuticle management system; a vision system; a nail polish application system; and a mobility system. The nail system may further include an accelerated drying system, a hand massage system, a nail identification/diagnosis/estimation of conditions system, an enclosure, a hand/foot rest system, a computer software system, a computer hardware system, a cartridge/pod system, and a multi-tool system. Related apparatuses, techniques and articles are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Alexander Shashou, Justin Effron, Marcus R. Williams, Margaret Mathieu, Lucile Driscoll, Lu Lyu, Charles C. Shortlidge, Peter Duerst, Douglas Stewart, Chris Casey, Ndungu Muturi, Ryan Wood, Zhi Teoh, Harald Quintusz-Bosz, Jesse Gray, Matt Berlin, Juhi Kalra, Christine Noh, Oliver Zhang, Will Burke, Chris Evans, Allison Tse, Anthony Parker, Eric Maxwell, Genevieve Laing
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Publication number: 20210026365Abstract: A mobile robot can include a robot body; a drive system supporting the robot body above a floor surface for maneuvering the robot across the floor surface; a bumper frame on a front periphery of the robot body, the bumper frame supported by the robot body; and a bumper impact system comprising: a first sensor at a first orientation with respect to the bumper frame that is configured to generate a first signal in response to a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper frame relative to the robot body; a second sensor at a second orientation with respect to the bumper frame that is configured to generate a second signal in response to a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper frame relative to the robot body, the second orientation being different from the first orientation; and a processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Dexter Bautista, Isaac Fowler, Andrew Granziani, Marcus R. Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Erik Schembor
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Publication number: 20210015331Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
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Patent number: 10824159Abstract: A mobile robot can include a robot body; a drive system supporting the robot body above a floor surface for maneuvering the robot across the floor surface; a bumper frame on a front periphery of the robot body, the bumper frame supported by the robot body; and a bumper impact system comprising: a first sensor at a first orientation with respect to the bumper frame that is configured to generate a first signal in response to a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper frame relative to the robot body; a second sensor at a second orientation with respect to the bumper frame that is configured to generate a second signal in response to a magnitude and a direction of movement of the bumper frame relative to the robot body, the second orientation being different from the first orientation; and a processor.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Dexter Bautista, Isaac Fowler, Andrew Graziani, Marcus R. Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Erik Schembor
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Patent number: 10791902Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
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Publication number: 20200170473Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
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Patent number: D921311Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Lucile Driscoll, Isaac Fowler