Patents by Inventor Paul Wilhelms

Paul Wilhelms 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).

  • Publication number: 20240106929
    Abstract: The invention discloses a computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computer system, for utilizing a hypervisor installed on a smartphone running separate virtual machines (VMs), one configured for personal use and another for work use, thereby allowing for separate operating environments on one piece of hardware. The method includes receiving one or more notifications, or calls, on the smartphone and determining whether the one or more notifications, or calls, are during work hours. The method selects, automatically, the work VM as default if the one or more notifications, or calls, are during work hours. If the one or more notifications, or calls, are not during work hours, the method automatically selects the personal VM as default. The method further notifies a user to switch VMs if the one or more notifications, or calls, occur during a time that is a non-default VM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Derek Brewer, Robert Wilhelm, Jon D Gullixson, Paul Llamas Virgen
  • Patent number: 11937891
    Abstract: A surgical robotic system includes at least one eye tracking system positioned detect the direction of at least one user's gaze. Input derived from the eye tracking system may be used to enter commands to the surgical robotic system depending on the directions of the gaze detected or other aspects of the gaze such as pupil dilation or speed of eye movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J Bender, Alexander John Maret, Matthew Robert Penny, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Dustin Owen Vaughan, Sevan Abashian, Michael Okyen
  • Publication number: 20240085379
    Abstract: A metrology apparatus for determining one or more parameters of a structure fabricated in or on a semiconductor substrate. The apparatus comprises a transducer array comprising a plurality of transducers positioned in a plane. The plurality of transducers comprises at least one transmitter transducer for emitting acoustic radiation in a frequency range from 1 GHz to 100 GHz towards the structure, and at least one receiver transducer for receiving acoustic radiation reflected and/or diffracted from the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Mustafa Ümit ARABUL, Zili ZHOU, Willem Marie,Julia,Marcel COENE, Coen Adrianus VERSCHUREN, Paul, Louis,Maria Joseph VAN NEER, Daniele PIRAS, Sandra BLAAK, Wouter Dick KOEK, Robert Wilhelm WILLEKERS
  • Publication number: 20240080594
    Abstract: A speaker can have a main body with a generally spheroidal shape, which can be supported standing on its end. The speaker can include a subwoofer that faces forward. A plurality of mid-range drivers can be distributed around the sub-woofer, facing generally forward and radially outward. A plurality of tweeters can be distributed around the sub-woofer, facing generally forward and generally outward. The outer housing portion of the speaker can be covered with a fabric material. A user interface ring 162 can be touch sensitive to receive input, and can have a plurality of lights that can be illuminated separately to convey information to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy David Williamson, Peter Joseph Hamblin, Maximilian Vincent Wozniak, Robert James Wilson, Wilson E. Taylor, JR., Larry E. Hand, Mark Robert Westcott, Mark Edward Trainer, Ellie Rei Fukuda, Joel Robert Sietsema, Paul Michael Belanger, Matthew Patrick Lyons, Timothy Steven DeYoung, Werner Kirchmann, Ralph Wilhelm Hermann
  • Publication number: 20240024674
    Abstract: A system comprising a controller for providing and receiving signalling to and from at least one electrical stimulation, ES, system, comprising an electrode array for applying an electrical stimulation to a muscle and one or more sensors for detecting a response of the muscle; the ES system is configured to selectively operate the electrode array in one of a motor point scan mode or a stimulation mode, wherein: in the motor point scan mode a plurality of scan measurements are taken between different pairs of electrodes; and based on measurement signalling of each scan measurement, the controller is configured to identify a first stimulation electrode and a second stimulation electrode; and in the stimulation mode a plurality of stimulation signals are applied to the first and second stimulation electrodes to provide for contraction of the muscle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Ackermann, Robin Assar Juthberg
  • Publication number: 20230390016
    Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Patent number: 11768204
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a fluid drive system and a surgical instrument removably positioned in operative engagement with the drive system. A sterile barrier covers non-sterile portions of the surgical system. Features of the sterile barrier are used to transfer motion output from the fluid drive system to the instrument for actuation of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Nicholas J. Bender, Alexander John Maret, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Sevan Abashian, Dustin Vaughan
  • Patent number: 11730556
    Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Patent number: 11717364
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument having jaws is energized and actuated using a length of cable. The cable is formed of a conductive inner portion coated with a dielectric polymer. The cable extends through a pass-through in a portion of the jaw and is crimped to create a mechanical and electrical connection between the conductive inner portion and the conductive jaw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Nicholas J. Jardine, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Patent number: 11690688
    Abstract: A robotic system assembly comprises a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly and a surgical instrument having a base body mountable to the actuator assembly. The base includes a first control input and a second control input, wherein the first and second control inputs are positioned on different sides of the base. The actuator assembly is moveable between open and closed positions to facilitate removal and replacement of surgical instruments. When in the closed positions, drive elements of the actuator assembly are positioned to drive the first and second control inputs of the surgical instrument to cause end effector movement or actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Publication number: 20230121745
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system operates in accordance with a mode of operation in which the actuators are operated to permit motion of the handle in pitch and yaw motion constrained with respect to a virtual fulcrum in a work space of the user interface, and insertion motion is constrained along an axis passing through the virtual fulcrum. In a virtual fulcrum setting mode, a user is prompted to give input to the system selecting a desired point in space for the virtual fulcrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Matthew R Penny
  • Patent number: 11628028
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with a robotic manipulator includes an end effector assembly having one or two end effector members, each having a distal treatment end, a proximal end, and a tendon pass-through. Each end effector member is sandwiched between a corresponding pair of pulley members that, when assembled define an annular tendon pathway that is between the pulley members and that is aligned with the pass-through. For each end effector member, a tendon having a distal loop portion ends through the tendon pass-through, with its legs passing proximally from the pass-through, extending in opposite directions around the tendon pathway and proximally through the instrument's shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Penny, Nicholas J Jardine, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Curtis P. Hanson, Robert Henson
  • Publication number: 20230064250
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical robotic system includes a plurality of handles, each removably attachable to a user interface assembly by a quick release connector. The selection of handles can include handles of varying size, degree of complexity, handles adapted for laparoscopic motion, handles adapted for true cartesian motion or handles customized to surgeon anthropometric data, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Zachary S. Leonard, Nicholas J. Jardine
  • Publication number: 20230029762
    Abstract: A humidification system including a water-delivery system, an air-delivery system, a control system, and at least one fog-generation system. In example forms, the system includes a water-and-air delivery bar, a fog-delivery block, and/or a tubing-and-track delivery system. In another example form, a humidification system includes a housing having a nozzle discharge body, an air inlet coupling having an air delivery conduit extending therethrough, and a water inlet coupling having a water delivery conduit extending therethrough, and further including means for providing heating and/or a consistent back-pressure and flowrate across multiple nozzles in a multi-nozzle array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: PRODEW, INC.
    Inventors: Itamar KLEINBERGER, Shakeel MERCHANT, Roland J. BILODEAU, Faizan ALY, Kendall C. PALMER, Paul WILHELM
  • Patent number: 11547513
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system includes a base, a handle mounted to the base and moveable relative to the base in at least six degrees of freedom, and actuators. The interface operates in accordance with a first mode of operation in which the actuators are operated to constrain predetermined ones of the joints to permit motion of the handle in only 4DOF with respect to the base, and a second mode of operation in which the actuators permit motion of the handle in at least 6DOF with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Matthew R Penny
  • Patent number: 11540890
    Abstract: A powered user interface for a robotic surgical system having a manipulator and a surgical instrument mounted to the manipulator includes a base and a linkage assembly that includes two two-bar linkage mechanisms. The linkage assembly is rotatably mounted to the base at a base joint, and a handle mounted to each of the two-bar linkage mechanisms. Sensors and actuators are arranged to measure and actuate the position and orientation of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Wilhelm Schnur, Stefan Atay, Kevin Andrew Hufford, Matthew R Penny
  • Patent number: 11517381
    Abstract: A user interface for a surgical robotic system includes a plurality of handles, each removably attachable to a user interface assembly by a quick release connector. The selection of handles can include handles of varying size, degree of complexity, handles adapted for laparoscopic motion, handles adapted for true cartesian motion or handles customized to surgeon anthropometric data, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Asensus Surgical US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J Jardine, Zachary S. Leonard, Paul Wilhelm Schnur
  • Patent number: 11493215
    Abstract: A humidification system including a water-delivery system, an air-delivery system, a control system, and at least one fog-generation system. In example forms, the system includes a water-and-air delivery bar, a fog-delivery block, and/or a tubing-and-track delivery system. In another example form, a humidification system includes a housing having a nozzle discharge body, an air inlet coupling having an air delivery conduit extending therethrough, and a water inlet coupling having a water delivery conduit extending therethrough, and further including means for providing heating and/or a consistent back-pressure and flowrate across multiple nozzles in a multi-nozzle array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: PRODEW, INC.
    Inventors: Itamar Kleinberger, Shakeel Merchant, Roland J. Bilodeau, Faizan Aly, Kendall C. Palmer, Paul Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20220327737
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining the position of a first point in space. A three-dimensional point cloud is generated that comprises a plurality of data points each defining a range from the first point in space to another point in space in a region around the first point. A two-dimensional image is captured of an area including at least some of the points to which ranges have been defined. One or more objects each corresponding to a landmark are identified in the two-dimensional image, and one or more of the data points are mapped to each object. A range to each of the one or more landmarks is determined based on the ranges defined by data points mapped to the objects. A position of the first point in space is then obtained based on known positions of the landmarks using trilateration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Jay Paul Wilhelm, Travis Wade Moleski
  • Patent number: 11323687
    Abstract: Structured light approaches utilize a laser to project features, which are then captured with a camera. By knowing the disparity between the laser emitter and the camera, the system can triangulate to find the range. Four, 185 degree field-of-view cameras provide overlapping views over nearly the whole unit sphere. The cameras are separated from each other to provide parallax. A near-infrared laser projection unit sends light out into the environment, which is reflected and viewed by the cameras. The laser projection system will create vertical lines, while the cameras will be displaced from each other horizontally. This relative shift of the lines, as viewed by different cameras, enables the lines to be triangulated in 3D space. At each point in time, a vertical stripe of the world will be triangulated. Over time, the laser line will be rotated over all yaw angles to provide full a 360 degree range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Robotic Research OpCo, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Karl Nicholas Murphy, Raymond Paul Wilhelm, III