Patents by Inventor Robert L. Kay

Robert L. Kay 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: 20240005549
    Abstract: This application describes a spatial envelope defining interaction of a robot arm and a fixture. The spatial envelope has a “keep-out” envelope defining a volume that the robot arm shall avoid entering, an input location defining a volume where the robot arm is to place a first object, an output location defining a volume from which the robot arm is to remove a second object, and a plurality of target items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Graham Ross, Robert L. Kay
  • Patent number: 11860105
    Abstract: An apparatus for analysis of a sample of a material is disclosed. The apparatus has a body configured to accept the sample and a detector with a plurality of points. The detector is configured to provide a signal about the intensities of light received at the points. The apparatus also includes a slit array having a plurality of slits configured to collected light from the accepted sample and a collimating lens array having a plurality of lenses configured to receive the light from the slit array and collimate the collected light. The apparatus also includes a diffraction grating configured to diffract the light received from the collimating lens array and a focusing lens configured to focus the diffracted light of a common frequency on a common point of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: K2R2
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross
  • Patent number: 11860103
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a sample is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring a spectral response of the sample, selecting a reference material having a Raman peak with a magnitude at a wave number, measuring a peak value in the spectral response at the wave number, and determining an amount of the reference material in the sample based in part on a ratio of the measured peak value to the magnitude of the Raman peak of the reference material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: K2R2
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross
  • Patent number: 11854222
    Abstract: This application describes a method of determining a position and orientation of an object having a plurality of fiducials attached thereto. The method includes the steps of forming images of the plurality of fiducials on a sensitive surface of a sensor and determining a 2D location of each of the images of the plurality of fiducials on the sensitive surface. Information comprising 3D positions of the plurality of fiducials in a coordinate system of the object is then retrieved and each of the 2D locations of the plurality of images is associated with the 3D position of the same fiducial. A position and orientation of the object with respect to the sensitive surface of the sensor is then determined based in part on the 2D locations of the images and the 3D positions of the fiducials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: Graham Ross, Robert L Kay
  • Publication number: 20230243751
    Abstract: An apparatus for analysis of a sample of a material is disclosed. The apparatus has a body configured to accept the sample and a detector with a plurality of points. The detector is configured to provide a signal about the intensities of light received at the points. The apparatus also includes a slit array having a plurality of slits configured to collected light from the accepted sample and a collimating lens array having a plurality of lenses configured to receive the light from the slit array and collimate the collected light. The apparatus also includes a diffraction grating configured to diffract the light received from the collimating lens array and a focusing lens configured to focus the diffracted light of a common frequency on a common point of the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross
  • Patent number: 11704831
    Abstract: A system for connecting a first ship to a second ship, the system having a plurality of target items coupled to the second ship, a camera module coupled to the first ship and configured to provide information comprising positions of images of the target items in a FOV, and a processor coupled to the camera module and a memory and configured to determine a first position and a first orientation of the second ship relative to the first ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Graham Ross, Robert L. Kay
  • Patent number: 11619588
    Abstract: An apparatus for analysis of a sample of a material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a holder configured to accept the sample. The holder includes a sample plate having a first surface configured to contact the accepted sample and a sample lens array that comprises a plurality of focusing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross
  • Patent number: 11598660
    Abstract: A fixture for dispensing a powder is disclosed. The fixture has a base and a beam with a first end, a second end, and a fulcrum disposed between the first and second ends and coupled to the base. The fixture also has a load transfer beam having a first end and a second end that is fixedly coupled to the base. A force sensor is coupled to the load transfer beam. The beam can rotate about the fulcrum with respect to the base and the second end of the beam makes a point contact with the first end of the load transfer beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Kay, Eric Plambeck, Zachary Francis
  • Publication number: 20230057859
    Abstract: A system for determining the position and orientation of a landing area relative to an approaching vehicle is disclosed. The landing area has a plurality of target items disposed proximate to the landing area at known locations. The system includes a sensor on which is formed images of target items that are within a Field of View (FOV) of the sensor, a processor configured to receive the positions of the target items on the sensor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores the locations of the target items relative to the landing area and instructions that, when loaded into the processor and executed, cause the processor to determine a position and an orientation of the landing area relative to the vehicle based in part on the information received from the sensor and the locations of the target items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Graham Ross, Robert L. Kay
  • Publication number: 20220244236
    Abstract: A secure analysis system for analyzing a sample is disclosed. The system includes an analyzer configured to create a measurement of the sample, create a data record of the measurement, encrypt the data record to form an encrypted data file, and provide the encrypted data file. The system also includes a server communicatively coupled to the analyzer and configured to receive the encrypted data file, store the encrypted data file, retrieve at least one of an encrypted algorithm, an encrypted parameter, and a portion of an encrypted library. The server is also configured to retrieve an encryption key, decrypt at least one of the data file, the algorithm, the parameter, and the library portion using the key, analyze the measurement, and provide a result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Kay, Graham Ross, Stephanie Kay
  • Publication number: 20220155123
    Abstract: A fixture for dispensing a powder is disclosed. The fixture has a base and a beam with a first end, a second end, and a fulcrum disposed between the first and second ends and coupled to the base. The fixture also has a load transfer beam having a first end and a second end that is fixedly coupled to the base. A force sensor is coupled to the load transfer beam. The beam can rotate about the fulcrum with respect to the base and the second end of the beam makes a point contact with the first end of the load transfer beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: K2R2
    Inventors: Robert L. Kay, Eric Plambeck, Zachary Francis
  • Publication number: 20220155234
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a sample is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring a spectral response of the sample, selecting a reference material having a Raman peak with a magnitude at a wave number, measuring a peak value in the spectral response at the wave number, and determining an amount of the reference material in the sample based in part on a ratio of the measured peak value to the magnitude of the Raman peak of the reference material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross
  • Publication number: 20220128475
    Abstract: An apparatus for analysis of a sample of a material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a holder configured to accept the sample. The holder includes a sample plate having a first surface configured to contact the accepted sample and a sample lens array that comprises a plurality of focusing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross
  • Patent number: 11268843
    Abstract: A module for dispensing a powder is disclosed. The module has a channel having an entry port, a hopper coupled to the entry port and configured to receive the powder, and a piston partially disposed within the channel and configured to reciprocate within the channel. The piston has a retracted position configured to allow the powder to move from the hopper through the entry port into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Kay, Eric Plambeck, Zachary Francis
  • Publication number: 20210404851
    Abstract: A module for dispensing a powder is disclosed. The module has a channel having an entry port, a hopper coupled to the entry port and configured to receive the powder, and a piston partially disposed within the channel and configured to reciprocate within the channel. The piston has a retracted position configured to allow the powder to move from the hopper through the entry port into the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Robert L. Kay, Eric Plambeck, Zachary Francis
  • Patent number: 11158084
    Abstract: A workcell that is configured to interact with a device having a plurality of target items and a first memory comprising information about 3D positions of the plurality of target items defined in a first coordinate system of the device. The workcell has a camera module and a processor. The camera module is configured to provide information about a first position of a target item on a first sensor and a second position of the same target item on the second sensor. The processor is configured to determine a position and an orientation of the device within the coordinate system of the workcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Graham Ross, Robert L Kay
  • Publication number: 20210295558
    Abstract: A system for connecting a first ship to a second ship, the system having a plurality of target items coupled to the second ship, a camera module coupled to the first ship and configured to provide information comprising positions of images of the target items in a FOV, and a processor coupled to the camera module and a memory and configured to determine a first position and a first orientation of the second ship relative to the first ship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Graham Ross, Robert L. Kay
  • Patent number: 11017549
    Abstract: A fixture having a memory containing information about one or more of a plurality of fiducials, a keep-out zone, and an interaction point. The fixture provides this information to a processor of a workcell during set-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: K2R2 LLC
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross
  • Publication number: 20200143564
    Abstract: A workcell that is configured to interact with a device having a plurality of target items and a first memory comprising information about 3D positions of the plurality of target items defined in a first coordinate system of the device. The workcell has a camera module and a processor. The camera module is configured to provide information about a first position of a target item on a first sensor and a second position of the same target item on the second sensor. The processor is configured to determine a position and an orientation of the device within the coordinate system of the workcell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: Elite Robotics
    Inventors: Graham Ross, Robert L Kay
  • Publication number: 20180350096
    Abstract: A fixture having a memory containing information about one or more of a plurality of fiducials, a keep-out zone, and an interaction point. The fixture provides this information to a processor of a workcell during set-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Elite Robotics
    Inventors: Robert L Kay, Graham Ross