Patents by Inventor Paul Michael Birkmeyer

Paul Michael Birkmeyer 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: 11390308
    Abstract: A dish cart includes a top with a slot for receiving a lift arm that may be lifted up through the slot to raise or lower dishes. Lobe openings emanating from the slot receive lobes of a lift paddle secured to the lift arm. The cart may define a gap below the top for permitting insertion of the lift paddle and the lift arm. The cart may be adjusted to receive differently sized dishes by means of rails of different sizes or adjustable vanes. A dish drop station includes the lift arm and lift paddle and a lift mechanism for raising and lower the lift arm. The dish drop station may include a cart present sensor and include a lock for retaining the cart. The controller may be programmed to the lower the lift arm to an unlock position that disengages the cart lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Young Lee, Jacob Conor Dooris, Kent Michael Anderson, Abigail Elizabeth Soong, Edward Joseph Menard, Thomas Ettore De Candia, Michael William Tschudy, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Katrina Bell Sheehy, Taylor Joseph Cone
  • Publication number: 20210387327
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 11179852
    Abstract: An actuator and end effector are controlled according to images from cameras having a surface in their field of view. Vessels (cups, bowls, etc.) and other objects are identified in the images and their configuration is assigned to a finite set of categories by a classifier that does not output a 3D bounding box or determine a 6D pose. For objects assigned to a first subset of categories, grasping parameters for controlling the actuator and end effector are determined using only 2D bounding boxes, such as oriented 2D bounding boxes. For objects not assigned to the first subset, a righting operation may be performed using only 2D bounding boxes. Objects that are still not in the first set may then be grasped by estimating a 3D bounding box and 6D pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DISHCRAFT ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Kerkil Choi, Yen-Khai Lee, Paul Michael Birkmeyer
  • Patent number: 10906168
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Publication number: 20210001488
    Abstract: An imaging system captures images of a work surface having articles of cutlery distributed thereon. An end effector, such as a magnetic end effector, may be used to grasp articles of cutlery and place them in a designated location according to the type of the article of cutlery as determined using an image of the work surface and machine vision. A type of articles of cutlery may be classified based on the image such as according to category (knife, fork, spoon), size, or brand. Multiple articles of cutlery occluding one another may be dealt with by stirring or grasping multiple items and releasing them on a separate work surface in order to disperse them. Whether the end effector is grasping multiple articles of cutlery may be determined by capturing an image of the end effector. Machine vision may determine whether an article of cutlery is contaminated or damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Kerkil Choi, Kenneth McAfee Peters, Parth Shah, Linda Pouliot
  • Publication number: 20200306980
    Abstract: An actuator and end effector are controlled according to images from cameras having a surface in their field of view. Vessels (cups, bowls, etc.) and other objects are identified in the images and their configuration is assigned to a finite set of categories by a classifier that does not output a 3D bounding box or determine a 6D pose. For objects assigned to a first subset of categories, grasping parameters for controlling the actuator and end effector are determined using only 2D bounding boxes, such as oriented 2D bounding boxes. For objects not assigned to the first subset, a righting operation may be performed using only 2D bounding boxes. Objects that are still not in the first set may then be grasped by estimating a 3D bounding box and 6D pose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Kerkil Choi, Yen-Khai Lee, Paul Michael Birkmeyer
  • Publication number: 20200283043
    Abstract: A dish cart includes a top with a slot for receiving a lift arm that may be lifted up through the slot to raise or lower dishes. Lobe openings emanating from the slot receive lobes of a lift paddle secured to the lift arm. The cart may define a gap below the top for permitting insertion of the lift paddle and the lift arm. The cart may be adjusted to receive differently sized dishes by means of rails of different sizes or adjustable vanes. A dish drop station includes the lift arm and lift paddle and a lift mechanism for raising and lower the lift arm. The dish drop station may include a cart present sensor and include a lock for retaining the cart. The controller may be programmed to the lower the lift arm to an unlock position that disengages the cart lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy Young Lee, Jacob Conor Dooris, Kent Michael Anderson, Abigail Elizabeth Soong, Edward Joseph Menard, Thomas Ettore De Candia, Michael William Tschudy, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Katrina Bell Sheehy, Taylor Joseph Cone
  • Patent number: 10766717
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying dishware through a cleaning cycle. The apparatus includes a magnetic grasping element to grasp dishware having a ferromagnetic component. The magnetic grasping element transitions between at least two states to selectively engage and disengage the dishware. A corresponding system and method are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Dishcraft Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth McAfee Peters, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Kevin Yuan Ma, Jacob Conor Dooris, Abigail Elizabeth Soong, Kent Michael Anderson
  • Publication number: 20200165079
    Abstract: A system for conveying dishware through a cleaning cycle. The system includes a conveyance assembly having a receiving surface to receive and retain dishware. The conveyance assembly rotates the receiving surfaces about an axis to convey the dishware to each of at least two unique locations. A corresponding system and method are also disclosed and claimed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Kevin Yuan Ma, Abigail Elizabeth Soong
  • Publication number: 20200163522
    Abstract: A system for conveying dishware through a cleaning cycle. The system includes a conveyance assembly having a receiving surface to receive and retain dishware. The conveyance assembly rotates the receiving surfaces about an axis to convey the dishware to each of at least two unique locations. A corresponding system and method are also disclosed and claimed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth McAfee Peters, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Kevin Yuan Ma, Jacob Conor Dooris, Abigail Elizabeth Soong, Kent Michael Anderson
  • Publication number: 20200165076
    Abstract: A system for conveying dishware through a cleaning cycle. The system includes a conveyance assembly having a receiving surface to receive and retain dishware. The conveyance assembly rotates the receiving surfaces about an axis to convey the dishware to each of at least two unique locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Yuan Ma, Abigail Elizabeth Soong, Kent Michael Anderson, Paul Michael Birkmeyer
  • Patent number: 10647524
    Abstract: A system for conveying dishware through a cleaning cycle. The system includes a conveyance assembly having a receiving surface to receive and retain dishware. The conveyance assembly rotates the receiving surfaces about an axis to convey the dishware to each of at least two unique locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: DISHCRAFT ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Yuan Ma, Abigail Elizabeth Soong, Kent Michael Anderson, Paul Michael Birkmeyer
  • Publication number: 20180361566
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 10105839
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 9950422
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 9427864
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 9403272
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Publication number: 20160101516
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Publication number: 20160101517
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 9266233
    Abstract: A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Roy David Kornbluh, Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Thomas Low, Katherine Goss Witherspoon, Brian Keith McCoy, Adam Arnold Edward Ziemba, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Richard M. Mahoney