Patents by Inventor Michael C. Valvo

Michael C. Valvo 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).

  • Robotic finger assembly
    Patent number: 8857874
    Abstract: A robotic hand includes a finger with first, second, and third phalanges. A first joint rotatably connects the first phalange to a base structure. A second joint rotatably connects the first phalange to the second phalange. A third joint rotatably connects the third phalange to the second phalange. The second joint and the third joint are kinematically linked such that the position of the third phalange with respect to the second phalange is determined by the position of the second phalange with respect to the first phalange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Lyndon Bridgwater, Myron A. Diftler, Douglas Martin Linn, Robert J. Platt, Jr., Brian Hargrave, Scott R. Askew, Michael C. Valvo
  • Robotic finger assembly
    Patent number: 8562049
    Abstract: A robotic hand includes a finger with first, second, and third phalanges. A first joint rotatably connects the first phalange to a base structure. A second joint rotatably connects the first phalange to the second phalange. A third joint rotatably connects the third phalange to the second phalange. The second joint and the third joint are kinematically linked such that the position of the third phalange with respect to the second phalange is determined by the position of the second phalange with respect to the first phalange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Lyndon Bridgwater, Myron A. Diftler, Douglas Martin Linn, Robert Platt, Brian Hargrave, Scott R. Askew, Michael C. Valvo
  • Tendon driven finger actuation system
    Patent number: 8467903
    Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a robotic hand having at least one finger. An actuation system for the robotic finger includes an actuator assembly which is supported by the robot and is spaced apart from the finger. A tendon extends from the actuator assembly to the at least one finger and ends in a tendon terminator. The actuator assembly is operable to actuate the tendon to move the tendon terminator and, thus, the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, David M. Reich, Lyndon Bridgwater, Douglas Martin Linn, Scott R. Askew, Myron A. Diftler, Robert Platt, Brian Hargrave, Michael C. Valvo, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Frank Noble Permenter, Joshua S. Mehling
  • Integrated high-speed torque control system for a robotic joint
    Patent number: 8442684
    Abstract: A control system for achieving high-speed torque for a joint of a robot includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a collocated joint processor and high-speed communication bus. The PCBA may also include a power inverter module (PIM) and local sensor conditioning electronics (SCE) for processing sensor data from one or more motor position sensors. Torque control of a motor of the joint is provided via the PCBA as a high-speed torque loop. Each joint processor may be embedded within or collocated with the robotic joint being controlled. Collocation of the joint processor, PIM, and high-speed bus may increase noise immunity of the control system, and the localized processing of sensor data from the joint motor at the joint level may minimize bus cabling to and from each control node. The joint processor may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oceaneeering Space Systems
    Inventors: Donald R. Davis, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Michael C. Valvo, R. Scott Askew
  • ROBOTIC FINGER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20110068595
    Abstract: A robotic hand includes a finger with first, second, and third phalanges. A first joint rotatably connects the first phalange to a base structure. A second joint rotatably connects the first phalange to the second phalange. A third joint rotatably connects the third phalange to the second phalange. The second joint and the third joint are kinematically linked such that the position of the third phalange with respect to the second phalange is determined by the position of the second phalange with respect to the first phalange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., The U.S.A. As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administraion, Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Lyndon Bridgwater, Myron A. Diftler, Douglas Martin Linn, Robert Platt, Brian Hargrave, Scott R. Askew, Michael C. Valvo
  • TENDON DRIVEN FINGER ACTUATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110071678
    Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a robotic hand having at least one finger. An actuation system for the robotic finger includes an actuator assembly which is supported by the robot and is spaced apart from the finger. A tendon extends from the actuator assembly to the at least one finger and ends in a tendon terminator. The actuator assembly is operable to actuate the tendon to move the tendon terminator and, thus, the finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., The U.S.A. As Rpresented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, David M. Reich, Lyndon Bridgwater, Douglas Martin Linn, Scott R. Askew`, Myron A. Diftler, Robert Platt, Brian Hargrave, Michael C. Valvo, Muhammad E. Abdallah, Frank Noble Permenter, Joshua S. Mehling
  • INTEGRATED HIGH-SPEED TORQUE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A ROBOTIC JOINT
    Publication number: 20110071680
    Abstract: A control system for achieving high-speed torque for a joint of a robot includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a collocated joint processor and high-speed communication bus. The PCBA may also include a power inverter module (PIM) and local sensor conditioning electronics (SCE) for processing sensor data from one or more motor position sensors. Torque control of a motor of the joint is provided via the PCBA as a high-speed torque loop. Each joint processor may be embedded within or collocated with the robotic joint being controlled. Collocation of the joint processor, PIM, and high-speed bus may increase noise immunity of the control system, and the localized processing of sensor data from the joint motor at the joint level may minimize bus cabling to and from each control node. The joint processor may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Davis, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Michael C. Valvo