Patents by Inventor Sean Johnson

Sean Johnson 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: 20190277511
    Abstract: A domestic cooking appliance is provided. The appliance includes a cooking compartment; a heating element that heats the cooking compartment; an exhaust opening in the cooking compartment, the exhaust opening being configured to allow exhaust gases to exit the cooking compartment; and an exhaust duct having a main body, an inlet opening, and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is fluidly connected to the exhaust opening, the outlet opening has an outlet opening cross-sectional area, the inlet opening has an inlet opening cross-sectional area, and the outlet opening cross-sectional area is smaller than the inlet opening cross-sectional area such that a fluing effect is created. The outlet opening is fluidly connected to an environment, and the exhaust gases follow an exhaust gas path that flows, in order, from the cooking compartment to the exhaust opening to the inlet opening through the main body to the outlet opening to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy Flowers, Sean Johnson, Brendon Keeler
  • Patent number: 10385892
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine includes a plurality of hydraulic component, wherein the hydraulic components include hydraulic actuators and hydraulic motors. The hydraulic system also includes a plurality of hydraulic circuits, and a plurality of hydraulic pumps for supplying hydraulic fluid to the plurality of hydraulic components via the hydraulic circuits. At least one hydraulic component receives hydraulic flow exclusively from a designated one of the hydraulic pumps and at least another, different hydraulic component receives shared hydraulic flow from a flow sharing set of the hydraulic pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Sharath Cugati, Christoper Williamson, Pengfei Ma, Mark Vonderwell, Sean Johnson, James W. Fuerst, Jiao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190243358
    Abstract: A method for performing tasks on items located in a space using a robot, includes receiving an order to perform a task on at least one item and obtaining a pose associated with the at least one item. The pose is in a coordinate system defined by the space and the pose is where the task is to be performed on the at least one item. The method includes navigating the robot toward the pose associated with the at least one item and detecting, when in proximity to the pose, if the pose is obstructed by an object. If the pose is obstructed by an object, halting the robot at a location spaced from the pose and then causing the robot to provide a first signal indicating that the robot is in a holding mode at the location spaced from the pose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Luis Jaquez, Sean Johnson, Michael Charles Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190217478
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving operator performance by robot gamification, the method including parking a robot at a pose location within a navigational space, identifying, by a sensor in electronic communication with an interactive display device, an operator located within a zone proximate the robot for acquiring an item to be picked, receiving, at the interactive display device, operator performance data associated with the acquiring of the item, and rendering, on the interactive display device in response to the received operator performance data, at least one graphic representation of operator achievement within a gamified performance tracking environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Luis Jaquez, Bruce Welty, Karen Leavitt
  • Patent number: 10354214
    Abstract: A robot system includes at least one robot configured to interact with a plurality of operators in a warehouse. The robot has a proximity detector configured to detect the presence of an operator of the plurality of operators when they are within a predetermined distance of the at least one robot. There is a processor configured to retrieve from a memory a set of operator interaction preferences for the operator detected. And, there is a display device configured to allow the at least one robot to interact with the detected operator based on the set of operator interaction preferences of the detected operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Bradley Powers, Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson, Luis Jaquez
  • Publication number: 20190138978
    Abstract: A method for grouping a plurality of orders in an order queue of a warehouse management system, each order including one or more items and each item being associated with a physical location in a warehouse. The method includes determining a physical location in the warehouse of each item in the plurality of orders. For each order, the method also includes establishing at least one cluster region, each cluster region including at least one item from the respective order. The method further includes grouping the plurality of orders based on the physical locations of the cluster regions in the warehouse to form at least one order set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Ryan Johnson, Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Bruce Welty
  • Patent number: 10198706
    Abstract: A system for identifying and tracking performance of operators in a warehouse. The system comprises at least one robot configured to interact with the operators in the warehouse. The at least one robot includes a first transceiver, a proximity detector, and a memory. The first transceiver defines a zone surrounding the robot and the proximity detector is coupled to the first transceiver. The proximity detector is configured to detect entry, into the zone, of an operator and to detect exit of the operator from the zone. The memory contains information identifying said operators who have entered and exited the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Bradley Powers, Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson
  • Patent number: 10196210
    Abstract: A robot capable of autonomously navigating through a warehouse to execute orders on items at locations in the warehouse with the assistance of the human operators. There is a mobile base unit and a display device associated with the mobile base unit having a display area to allow the human operators to interact with the robot. And, there is a processor configured to display on a first portion of the display area information corresponding to an item on which an operator is to assist the robot execute the order at a first location and to display on a second portion of the display area icons representing other robots within a predetermined area surrounding the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.
    Inventors: Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson, Luis Jaquez, Michael Charles Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180370728
    Abstract: A method for queuing robots destined for one or more processing stations in an environment includes determining when each robot of a plurality of robots destined for the one or more processing stations have entered a predefined target zone proximate the one or more processing stations. The method also includes assigning each of the robots to one of a plurality of queue positions based on an assigned priority and directing each of the robots from its assigned queue position to a processing position of one of the processing stations. Each of the processing stations includes at least two processing positions for a like number of robots to occupy for processing by an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Kaitlin Margaret Gallagher, Sean Johnson, Michael Charles Johnson, Luis Jaquez
  • Publication number: 20180201444
    Abstract: A robot capable of autonomously navigating through a warehouse to execute orders on items at locations in the warehouse with the assistance of the human operators. There is a mobile base unit and a display device associated with the mobile base unit having a display area to allow the human operators to interact with the robot. And, there is a processor configured to display on a first portion of the display area information corresponding to an item on which an operator is to assist the robot execute the order at a first location and to display on a second portion of the display area icons representing other robots within a predetermined area surrounding the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: Locus Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson, Louis Jaquez, Michael Charles Johnson
  • Patent number: 10019015
    Abstract: A method for performing tasks on items located in a space using a robot, the items being located proximate fiducial markers, each fiducial marker having a fiducial identification. The method includes receiving an order to perform a task on at least one item and determining the fiducial identification associated with the at least one item. The method also includes obtaining, using the fiducial identification of the at least one item, a set of coordinates representing a position of the fiducial marker with the determined fiducial identification, in a coordinate system defined by the space. The method further includes navigating the robot to the coordinates of the fiducial marker associated with said determined fiducial identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Bradley Powers, Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180172037
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a machine includes a plurality of hydraulic component, wherein the hydraulic components include hydraulic actuators and hydraulic motors. The hydraulic system also includes a plurality of hydraulic circuits, and a plurality of hydraulic pumps for supplying hydraulic fluid to the plurality of hydraulic components via the hydraulic circuits. At least one hydraulic component receives hydraulic flow exclusively from a designated one of the hydraulic pumps and at least another, different hydraulic component receives shared hydraulic flow from a flow sharing set of the hydraulic pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Sharath CUGATI, Christoper WILLIAMSON, Pengfei MA, Mark VONDERWELL, Sean JOHNSON, James W. FUERST, Jiao ZHANG
  • Patent number: 10001768
    Abstract: A method for executing orders by at least one robot on a plurality of items stored at locations throughout a warehouse including reading a bar code affixed to an item storage array disposed on said at least one robot. The item storage array includes a plurality of interconnected containers each for storing items associated with an order. The method also includes using the read bar code to retrieve information about at least one characteristic of the item storage array and assigning an order associated to each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array. The orders are based in part on the at least one characteristic of the item storage array. The method further includes navigating the at least one robot to locations throughout the warehouse to execute the orders associated with each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Locus Robotics Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Luis Jaquez
  • Publication number: 20180059635
    Abstract: A method for executing orders by at least one robot on a plurality of items stored at locations throughout a warehouse including reading a bar code affixed to an item storage array disposed on said at least one robot. The item storage array includes a plurality of interconnected containers each for storing items associated with an order. The method also includes using the read bar code to retrieve information about at least one characteristic of the item storage array and assigning an order associated to each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array. The orders are based in part on the at least one characteristic of the item storage array. The method further includes navigating the at least one robot to locations throughout the warehouse to execute the orders associated with each of the plurality of containers of the item storage array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Mike Johnson, Sean Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Luis Jaquez
  • Publication number: 20180043533
    Abstract: A method for queuing robots destined for one or more target locations in an environment, includes determining if a plurality of robots destined for the one or more target locations have entered a predefined target zone proximate the one or more target locations. The method also includes assigning each of the robots to either its target location or one of a plurality of queue locations based on an assigned priority. The plurality of queue locations are grouped into one or more queue groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Charles Johnson, Sean Johnson, Bradley Powers, Kaitlin Margaret Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20170282368
    Abstract: A method for queuing robots destined for a target location in an environment, includes determining if a first robot occupies the target location and if it is determined that the first robot occupies the target location, determining if a second robot destined for the target location has entered a predefined target zone proximate the target location. If the second robot has entered the predefined target zone, the method further includes navigating the second robot to a first queue location and causing the second robot to wait at the first queue location until the first robot no longer occupies the target location. The method also includes navigating the second robot to the target location after the first robot leaves the target location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Mike Johnson, Sean Johnson, Bradley Powers, Kaitlin Margaret Gallagher
  • Patent number: 9776324
    Abstract: A method for queuing robots destined for a target location in an environment, includes determining if a first robot occupies the target location and if it is determined that the first robot occupies the target location, determining if a second robot destined for the target location has entered a predefined target zone proximate the target location. If the second robot has entered the predefined target zone, the method further includes navigating the second robot to a first queue location and causing the second robot to wait at the first queue location until the first robot no longer occupies the target location. The method also includes navigating the second robot to the target location after the first robot leaves the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Locus Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Johnson, Sean Johnson, Bradley Powers, Kaitlin Margaret Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20170278047
    Abstract: A method for executing an order to perform a plurality of tasks on items at locations throughout a warehouse space using a robot includes receiving an order for the robot to execute a plurality of tasks. The order including for each task, a task type and an item associated with each task. The method also includes navigating the robot to the locations in the warehouse space associated with each item and executing at each location, the task type on the associated item. The task types for the order include picking, placing, and at least one inventory control task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce Welty, Mike Johnson, Sean Johnson, Albert Arch Dekin, III
  • Publication number: 20170274531
    Abstract: A method for queuing robots destined for a target location in an environment, includes determining if a first robot occupies the target location and if it is determined that the first robot occupies the target location, determining if a second robot destined for the target location has entered a predefined target zone proximate the target location. If the second robot has entered the predefined target zone, the method further includes navigating the second robot to a first queue location and causing the second robot to wait at the first queue location until the first robot no longer occupies the target location. The method also includes navigating the second robot to the target location after the first robot leaves the target location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Mike Johnson, Sean Johnson, Bradley Powers, Kaitlin Margaret Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20170261992
    Abstract: A method for performing tasks on items located in a space using a robot, the items being located proximate fiducial markers, each fiducial marker having a fiducial identification. The method includes receiving an order to perform a task on at least one item and determining the fiducial identification associated with the at least one item. The method also includes obtaining, using the fiducial identification of the at least one item, a set of coordinates representing a position of the fiducial marker with the determined fiducial identification, in a coordinate system defined by the space. The method further includes navigating the robot to the coordinates of the fiducial marker associated with said determined fiducial identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Mike Johnson, Bradley Powers, Bruce Welty, Sean Johnson