Patents by Inventor Marcus Williams

Marcus 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).

  • Patent number: 12082758
    Abstract: A cleaning pad for an autonomous cleaning robot evenly wets and collects debris for cleaning operations. The pad includes a core of absorbent layers for absorbing liquid through capillary action and for distributing the liquid within the cleaning pad. The pad includes a wrap layer around the core, the wrap layer comprising a fibrous layer that is flexible and absorbent, the fibrous layer configured to absorb liquid through capillary action and transfer the liquid to the core. The pad includes one or more transition regions spanning a cleaning width of the cleaning pad, the one or more transition regions dividing the cleaning pad into at least two segments. The forward positioned segment of the pad, of the at least two segments of the pad, has a lesser thickness compared to a thickness of an aft positioned segment of the at least two segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Lin Lung Chieh
  • Publication number: 20240279617
    Abstract: Assay and systems are provided that include use of cells and/or organoid for patient diagnosis, drug development, and personalized medicine, including for diagnosis and treatment of cancer and associated diseases and disorders. In one aspect, systems and methods include applying a phase-specific and force-guided polymerization of a biomaterial, wherein the polymerization comprises a nucleation phase and an elongation phase; thereby, producing a model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Deok-Ho Kim, Chia-Yi Su, Alice Burchett, Marcus Williams
  • Publication number: 20240225400
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot includes presenting, on a display of a mobile device, a representation of each of multiple cleaning levels, each cleaning level corresponding to a respective rank overlap parameter for a wet cleaning mission of the autonomous cleaning robot. The method includes receiving, at the mobile device, an input indicative of a selection of one of the cleaning levels; and controlling the autonomous cleaning robot to execute a wet cleaning mission according to the rank overlap parameter corresponding to the selected one of the cleaning levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Marcus Williams, Adam Goss, Melissa O'Dea
  • Patent number: 11980329
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a body, a controller supported by the body, a drive supporting the body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface in response to commands from the controller, and a pad holder attached to an underside of the body to hold a removable cleaning pad during operation of the robot. The pad includes a mounting plate and a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the mounting surface. The robot includes a pad sensor to sense a feature on the pad and to generate a signal based on the feature, which is defined in part by a cutout on the card backing. The mounting plate enables the pad sensor to detect the feature. The controller is responsive to the signal to perform operations including selecting a cleaning mode based on the signal, and controlling the robot according to a selected cleaning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Daniel Foran, Marcus Williams, Andrew Graziani
  • Patent number: 11957286
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Dan Foran, Marcus Williams, Joe Johnson, Andrew Graziani
  • Publication number: 20230111703
    Abstract: A cleaning pad for an autonomous cleaning robot evenly wets and collects debris for cleaning operations. The pad includes a core of absorbent layers for absorbing liquid through capillary action and for distributing the liquid within the cleaning pad. The pad includes a wrap layer around the core, the wrap layer comprising a fibrous layer that is flexible and absorbent, the fibrous layer configured to absorb liquid through capillary action and transfer the liquid to the core. The pad includes one or more transition regions spanning a cleaning width of the cleaning pad, the one or more transition regions dividing the cleaning pad into at least two segments. The forward positioned segment of the pad, of the at least two segments of the pad, has a lesser thickness compared to a thickness of an aft positioned segment of the at least two segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Lin Lung Chieh
  • Publication number: 20230064687
    Abstract: A robot includes a body that is movable relative to a surface one or more measurement devices within the body to output information based on an orientation of the body at an initial location on the surface, and a controller within the body to determine an orientation of the body based on the information and to restrict movement of the body to an area by preventing movement of the body beyond a barrier that is based on the orientation of the body and the initial location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Fabrizio Santini
  • Patent number: 11571104
    Abstract: A cleaning pad for an autonomous cleaning robot evenly wets and collects debris for cleaning operations. The pad includes a core of absorbent layers for absorbing liquid through capillary action and for distributing the liquid within the cleaning pad. The pad includes a wrap layer around the core, the wrap layer comprising a fibrous layer that is flexible and absorbent, the fibrous layer configured to absorb liquid through capillary action and transfer the liquid to the core. The pad includes one or more transition regions spanning a cleaning width of the cleaning pad, the one or more transition regions dividing the cleaning pad into at least two segments. The forward positioned segment of the pad, of the at least two segments of the pad, has a lesser thickness compared to a thickness of an aft positioned segment of the at least two segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Lin Lung Chieh
  • Patent number: 11547264
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot includes presenting, on a display of a mobile device, a representation of each of multiple cleaning levels, each cleaning level corresponding to a respective rank overlap parameter for a wet cleaning mission of the autonomous cleaning robot. The method includes receiving, at the mobile device, an input indicative of a selection of one of the cleaning levels; and controlling the autonomous cleaning robot to execute a wet cleaning mission according to the rank overlap parameter corresponding to the selected one of the cleaning levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Marcus Williams, Adam Goss, Melissa O'Dea
  • Patent number: 11465284
    Abstract: A robot includes a body that is movable relative to a surface one or more measurement devices within the body to output information based on an orientation of the body at an initial location on the surface, and a controller within the body to determine an orientation of the body based on the information and to restrict movement of the body to an area by preventing movement of the body beyond a barrier that is based on the orientation of the body and the initial location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Fabrizio Santini
  • Patent number: 11324376
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Dan Foran, Marcus Williams, Joe Johnson, Andrew Graziani
  • Patent number: 11272822
    Abstract: A pad particularly adapted for surface cleaning. The pad includes an absorbent core having the ability to absorb and retain liquid material, and a liner layer in contact with and covering at least one side of the absorbent core. The liner layer has the ability to retain and wick liquid material through the liner layer. Cleaning apparatus containing such pads and methods of using such pads are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, Marcus Williams, Joseph M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11161098
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a carrier substrate of the length L extending between substrate ends a and b and two washcoat zones A and B, wherein washcoat zone A comprises a first platinum group metal and extends starting from substrate end a over a part of the length L, and washcoat zone B comprises the same components as washcoat zone A and in addition a second platinum group metal and extends from substrate end b over a part of the length L, wherein L=LA+LB, wherein LA is the length of washcoat zone A and LB is the length of substrate length B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: John Nunan, Ryan J. Andersen, Curt M. Ellis, John Kraus, Marcus Williams, Deven Ross
  • Publication number: 20210267429
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a body, a controller supported by the body, a drive supporting the body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface in response to commands from the controller, and a pad holder attached to an underside of the body to hold a removable cleaning pad during operation of the robot. The pad includes a mounting plate and a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the mounting surface. The robot includes a pad sensor to sense a feature on the pad and to generate a signal based on the feature, which is defined in part by a cutout on the card backing. The mounting plate enables the pad sensor to detect the feature. The controller is responsive to the signal to perform operations including selecting a cleaning mode based on the signal, and controlling the robot according to a selected cleaning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Daniel Foran, Marcus Williams, Andrew Graziani
  • Patent number: 11072250
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane L. Gilbert, Jr., Marcus Williams, Andrea M. Okerholm, Elaine H. Kristant, Sheila A. Longo, Daniel E. Kee, Marc D. Strauss
  • Patent number: 10952585
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a body, a controller supported by the body, a drive supporting the body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface in response to commands from the controller, and a pad holder attached to an underside of the body to hold a removable cleaning pad during operation of the robot. The pad includes a mounting plate and a mounting surface. The mounting plate is attached to the mounting surface. The robot includes a pad sensor to sense a feature on the pad and to generate a signal based on the feature, which is defined in part by a cutout on the card backing. The mounting plate enables the pad sensor to detect the feature. The controller is responsive to the signal to perform operations including selecting a cleaning mode based on the signal, and controlling the robot according to a selected cleaning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Robot Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Daniel Foran, Marcus Williams, Andrew Graziani
  • Publication number: 20200345193
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot includes presenting, on a display of a mobile device, a representation of each of multiple cleaning levels, each cleaning level corresponding to a respective rank overlap parameter for a wet cleaning mission of the autonomous cleaning robot. The method includes receiving, at the mobile device, an input indicative of a selection of one of the cleaning levels; and controlling the autonomous cleaning robot to execute a wet cleaning mission according to the rank overlap parameter corresponding to the selected one of the cleaning levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Ping-Hong Lu, Marcus Williams, Adam Goss, Melissa O'Dea
  • Publication number: 20200238520
    Abstract: A robot includes a body that is movable relative to a surface one or more measurement devices within the body to output information based on an orientation of the body at an initial location on the surface, and a controller within the body to determine an orientation of the body based on the information and to restrict movement of the body to an area by preventing movement of the body beyond a barrier that is based on the orientation of the body and the initial location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Fabrizio Santini
  • Publication number: 20200214528
    Abstract: A cleaning pad for an autonomous cleaning robot evenly wets and collects debris for cleaning operations. The pad includes a core of absorbent layers for absorbing liquid through capillary action and for distributing the liquid within the cleaning pad. The pad includes a wrap layer around the core, the wrap layer comprising a fibrous layer that is flexible and absorbent, the fibrous layer configured to absorb liquid through capillary action and transfer the liquid to the core. The pad includes one or more transition regions spanning a cleaning width of the cleaning pad, the one or more transition regions dividing the cleaning pad into at least two segments. The forward positioned segment of the pad, of the at least two segments of the pad, has a lesser thickness compared to a thickness of an aft positioned segment of the at least two segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Lin Lung Chieh
  • Patent number: 10639793
    Abstract: A robot includes a body that is movable relative to a surface one or more measurement devices within the body to output information based on an orientation of the body at an initial location on the surface, and a controller within the body to determine an orientation of the body based on the information and to restrict movement of the body to an area by preventing movement of the body beyond a barrier that is based on the orientation of the body and the initial location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Williams, Ping-Hong Lu, Joseph M. Johnson, Fabrizio Santini