Patents by Inventor Philip Fong

Philip Fong 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: 12027931
    Abstract: A resolver for an electric machine includes a resolver stator and a connection module. The resolver stator and the connection module are formed as a single piece. The connection module includes a first plugging portion, which has at least one first contact pin and at least one second contact pin, and a second plugging portion, which has at least one third contact pin. The first contact pin is electrically connected to the resolver stator, and the second contact pin is electrically connected to the third contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA Powertrain GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Miodrag Katana, Erguen Guener, Markus Mathis, Philip Fong
  • Patent number: 11966227
    Abstract: A method includes constructing a map of an environment based on mapping data produced by an autonomous cleaning robot in the environment during a first cleaning mission. Constructing the map includes providing a label associated with a portion of the mapping data. The method includes causing a remote computing device to present a visual representation of the environment based on the map, and a visual indicator of the label. The method includes causing the autonomous cleaning robot to initiate a behavior associated with the label during a second cleaning mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Andreas Kolling, Manjunath Narayana, Philip Fong
  • Patent number: 11926066
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for carpet drift estimation are disclosed. In certain implementations, a robotic device includes an actuator system to move the body across a surface. A first set of sensors can sense an actuation characteristic of the actuator system. For example, the first set of sensors can include odometry sensors for sensing wheel rotations of the actuator system. A second set of sensors can sense a motion characteristic of the body. The first set of sensors may be a different type of sensor than the second set of sensors. A controller can estimate carpet drift based at least on the actuation characteristic sensed by the first set of sensors and the motion characteristic sensed by the second set of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Dhiraj Goel, Ethan Eade, Philip Fong, Mario E. Munich
  • Publication number: 20230113254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a resolver (1) for an electric machine, comprising a resolver stator (2) and a connection module (3). The resolver stator (2) and the connection module (3) are formed as a single piece. The connection module (3) comprises a first plugging portion (4), which has at least one first contact pin (6) and at least one second contact pin (7), and a second plugging portion (5), which has at least one third contact pin (8). The first contact pin (6) is electrically connected to the resolver stator (2), and the second contact pin (7) is electrically connected to the third contact pin (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Miodrag Katana, Erguen Guener, Markus Mathis, Philip Fong
  • Patent number: 11614746
    Abstract: A multi-robot system includes a first a mobile cleaning robot that has a local storage device to store a persistent map of an environment, at least one sensor to sense the environment, and a control module. The control module is configured to: control the mobile cleaning robot to navigate in the environment using the persistent map and sensing data provided by the at least one sensor, share the persistent map with a second mobile cleaning robot, and coordinate with the second mobile cleaning robot to perform cleaning tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Fong, Clifton Eric Smith, Mario Munich, Stephen Ernest O'Dea
  • Patent number: 11571813
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for maintaining a valid semantic map of an environment for a mobile robot. A mobile robot comprises a drive system, a sensor circuit to sense occupancy information, a memory, a controller circuit, and a communication system. The controller circuit can generate a first semantic map corresponding to a first robot mission using first occupancy information and first semantic annotations, transfer the first semantic annotations to a second semantic map corresponding to a subsequent second robot mission. The control circuit can generate the second semantic map that includes second semantic annotations generated based on the transferred first semantic annotations. User feedback on the first or the second semantic map can be received via a communication system. The control circuit can update first semantic map and use it to navigate the mobile robot in a future mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Manjunath Narayana, Andreas Kolling, Philip Fong
  • Publication number: 20220269275
    Abstract: A method includes constructing a map of an environment based on mapping data produced by an autonomous cleaning robot in the environment during a first cleaning mission. Constructing the map includes providing a label associated with a portion of the mapping data. The method includes causing a remote computing device to present a visual representation of the environment based on the map, and a visual indicator of the label. The method includes causing the autonomous cleaning robot to initiate a behavior associated with the label during a second cleaning mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Andreas Kolling, Manjunath Narayana, Philip Fong
  • Publication number: 20220183529
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a drive system to support the robot above a surface, a sensor system configured to generate a signal indicative of a location of the robot on the surface, and a controller operably connected to the drive system and the sensor system. The drive system is operable to navigate the robot about the surface. The controller is configured to execute instructions to perform operations including establishing a behavior control zone on the surface, controlling the drive system, in response to establishing the behavior control zone on the surface, to maneuver the robot to a location of the behavior control zone on the surface, and maneuvering, using the drive system, the robot about the surface and initiating a behavior in response to determining, based on the signal indicative of the location of the robot, that the robot is proximate the behavior control zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Philip Fong, Vazgen Karapetyan, Andreas Kolling
  • Patent number: 11266287
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a drive system to support the robot above a surface, a sensor system configured to generate a signal indicative of a location of the robot on the surface, and a controller operably connected to the drive system and the sensor system. The drive system is operable to navigate the robot about the surface. The controller is configured to execute instructions to perform operations including establishing a behavior control zone on the surface, controlling the drive system, in response to establishing the behavior control zone on the surface, to maneuver the robot to a location of the behavior control zone on the surface, and maneuvering, using the drive system, the robot about the surface and initiating a behavior in response to determining, based on the signal indicative of the location of the robot, that the robot is proximate the behavior control zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Philip Fong, Vazgen Karapetyan, Andreas Kolling
  • Patent number: 11249482
    Abstract: A method includes constructing a map of an environment based on mapping data produced by an autonomous cleaning robot in the environment during a first cleaning mission. Constructing the map includes providing a label associated with a portion of the mapping data. The method includes causing a remote computing device to present a visual representation of the environment based on the map, and a visual indicator of the label. The method includes causing the autonomous cleaning robot to initiate a behavior associated with the label during a second cleaning mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Andreas Kolling, Manjunath Narayana, Philip Fong
  • Publication number: 20210282613
    Abstract: A method includes receiving mapping data collected by an autonomous cleaning robot as the autonomous cleaning robot moves about an environment. A portion of the mapping data is indicative of a location of an object in the environment. The method includes defining a clean zone at the location of the object such that the autonomous cleaning robot initiates a clean behavior constrained to the clean zone in response to encountering the clean zone in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Philip Fong, Ryan Schneider
  • Publication number: 20210268652
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for maintaining a valid semantic map of an environment for a mobile robot. A mobile robot comprises a drive system, a sensor circuit to sense occupancy information, a memory, a controller circuit, and a communication system. The controller circuit can generate a first semantic map corresponding to a first robot mission using first occupancy information and first semantic annotations, transfer the first semantic annotations to a second semantic map corresponding to a subsequent second robot mission. The control circuit can generate the second semantic map that includes second semantic annotations generated based on the transferred first semantic annotations. User feedback on the first or the second semantic map can be received via a communication system. The control circuit can update first semantic map and use it to navigate the mobile robot in a future mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Manjunath Narayana, Andreas Kolling, Philip Fong
  • Publication number: 20210221003
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for carpet drift estimation are disclosed. In certain implementations, a robotic device includes an actuator system to move the body across a surface. A first set of sensors can sense an actuation characteristic of the actuator system. For example, the first set of sensors can include odometry sensors for sensing wheel rotations of the actuator system. A second set of sensors can sense a motion characteristic of the body. The first set of sensors may be a different type of sensor than the second set of sensors. A controller can estimate carpet drift based at least on the actuation characteristic sensed by the first set of sensors and the motion characteristic sensed by the second set of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Dhiraj Goel, Ethan Eade, Philip Fong, Mario E. Munich
  • Publication number: 20210124354
    Abstract: A method includes constructing a map of an environment based on mapping data produced by an autonomous cleaning robot in the environment during a first cleaning mission. Constructing the map includes providing a label associated with a portion of the mapping data. The method includes causing a remote computing device to present a visual representation of the environment based on the map, and a visual indicator of the label. The method includes causing the autonomous cleaning robot to initiate a behavior associated with the label during a second cleaning mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Andreas Kolling, Manjunath Narayana, Philip Fong
  • Patent number: 10974391
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for carpet drift estimation are disclosed. In certain implementations, a robotic device includes an actuator system to move the body across a surface. A first set of sensors can sense an actuation characteristic of the actuator system. For example, the first set of sensors can include odometry sensors for sensing wheel rotations of the actuator system. A second set of sensors can sense a motion characteristic of the body. The first set of sensors may be a different type of sensor than the second set of sensors. A controller can estimate carpet drift based at least on the actuation characteristic sensed by the first set of sensors and the motion characteristic sensed by the second set of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Dhiraj Goel, Ethan Eade, Philip Fong, Mario E. Munich
  • Patent number: 10962376
    Abstract: A system and method for mapping parameter data acquired by a robot mapping system is disclosed. Parameter data characterizing the environment is collected while the robot localizes itself within the environment using landmarks. Parameter data is recorded in a plurality of local grids, i.e., sub-maps associated with the robot position and orientation when the data was collected. The robot is configured to generate new grids or reuse existing grids depending on the robot's current pose, the pose associated with other grids, and the uncertainty of these relative pose estimates. The pose estimates associated with the grids are updated over time as the robot refines its estimates of the locations of landmarks from which determines its pose in the environment. Occupancy maps or other global parameter maps may be generated by rendering local grids into a comprehensive map indicating the parameter data in a global reference frame extending the dimensions of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Fong, Ethan Eade, Mario E. Munich
  • Publication number: 20200375429
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a drive system to support the robot above a surface, a sensor system configured to generate a signal indicative of a location of the robot on the surface, and a controller operably connected to the drive system and the sensor system. The drive system is operable to navigate the robot about the surface. The controller is configured to execute instructions to perform operations including establishing a behavior control zone on the surface, controlling the drive system, in response to establishing the behavior control zone on the surface, to maneuver the robot to a location of the behavior control zone on the surface, and maneuvering, using the drive system, the robot about the surface and initiating a behavior in response to determining, based on the signal indicative of the location of the robot, that the robot is proximate the behavior control zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Philip Fong, Vazgen Karapetyan, Andreas Kolling
  • Patent number: 10705535
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile robot configured to navigate an operating environment, that includes a controller circuit that directs a drive of the mobile robot to navigate the mobile robot through an environment using camera-based navigation system and a camera including optics defining a camera field of view and a camera optical axis, where the camera is positioned within the recessed structure and is tilted so that the camera optical axis is aligned at an acute angle of above a horizontal plane in line with the top surface and is aimed in a forward drive direction of the robot body, and the camera is configured to capture images of the operating environment of the mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mario Munich, Nikolai Romanov, Dhiraj Goel, Philip Fong
  • Patent number: 10611023
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile robot configured to navigate an operating environment, that includes a machine vision system comprising a camera that captures images of the operating environment using a machine vision system; detects the presence of an occlusion obstructing a portion of the field of view of a camera based on the captured images, and generate a notification when an occlusion obstructing the portion of the field of view of the camera is detected, and maintain occlusion detection data describing occluded and unobstructed portions of images being used by the SLAM application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Fong, Jason Meltzer, Marc Barnada Rius
  • Publication number: 20190337151
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile robot configured to navigate an operating environment, that includes a machine vision system comprising a camera that captures images of the operating environment using a machine vision system; detects the presence of an occlusion obstructing a portion of the field of view of a camera based on the captured images, and generate a notification when an occlusion obstructing the portion of the field of view of the camera is detected, and maintain occlusion detection data describing occluded and unobstructed portions of images being used by the SLAM application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Philip Fong, Jason Meltzer, Marc Barnada Rius