Patents by Inventor Seth Blitzblau
Seth Blitzblau 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: 11104006Abstract: A robot includes a body and a bumper. The body is movable relative to a surface and includes a first portion of a sensor. The bumper is mounted on the body and movable relative to the body and includes a backing and a second portion of the sensor. The backing is movable relative to the body in response to a force applied to the bumper. The second portion of the sensor is attached to the backing and movable with the backing relative to the first portion of the sensor in response to a force applied to the bumper. The sensor is configured to output an electrical signal in response to a movement of the backing. The electrical signal is proportional to an amount of displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Victor Fay, Seth Blitzblau, Samuel Duffley, Kyle Dumont, Justin H. Woodman
-
Patent number: 10674885Abstract: An autonomous robot comprises a robot body, a drive configured to propel the robot, a sensor system disposed on the robot body, and a navigation controller circuit in communication with the drive and the sensor system. The sensor system comprises at least one proximity sensor comprising a sensor body, and a first emitter, a second emitter and a receiver housed by the sensor body, wherein the receiver detects objects in a bounded detection volume of the receiver field of view aimed outward and downward beyond a periphery of the robot body. The receiver is disposed above and between the first and second emitters, the emitters having a twice-reshaped emission beams angled upward to intersect the receiver field of view at a fixed range of distances from the periphery of the robot body to define the bounded detection volume.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Tom Bushman, James Herman, Seth Blitzblau, Nathan J. Deschaine, Andrew Scott Reichel
-
Publication number: 20180370042Abstract: A robot includes a body and a bumper. The body is movable relative to a surface and includes a first portion of a sensor. The bumper is mounted on the body and movable relative to the body and includes a backing and a second portion of the sensor. The backing is movable relative to the body in response to a force applied to the bumper. The second portion of the sensor is attached to the backing and movable with the backing relative to the first portion of the sensor in response to a force applied to the bumper. The sensor is configured to output an electrical signal in response to a movement of the backing. The electrical signal is proportional to an amount of displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Victor Fay, Seth Blitzblau, Sam Duffley, Kyle Dumont, Justin H. Woodman
-
Patent number: 10035270Abstract: A robot includes a body and a bumper. The body is movable relative to a surface and includes a first portion of a sensor. The bumper is mounted on the body and movable relative to the body and includes a backing and a second portion of the sensor. The backing is movable relative to the body in response to a force applied to the bumper. The second portion of the sensor is attached to the backing and movable with the backing relative to the first portion of the sensor in response to a force applied to the bumper. The sensor is configured to output an electrical signal in response to a movement of the backing. The electrical signal is proportional to an amount of displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Victor Fay, Seth Blitzblau, Samuel Duffley, Kyle Dumont, Justin H. Woodman
-
Publication number: 20180169863Abstract: An autonomous robot comprises a robot body, a drive configured to propel the robot, a sensor system disposed on the robot body, and a navigation controller circuit in communication with the drive and the sensor system. The sensor system comprises at least one proximity sensor comprising a sensor body, and a first emitter, a second emitter and a receiver housed by the sensor body, wherein the receiver detects objects in a bounded detection volume of the receiver field of view aimed outward and downward beyond a periphery of the robot body. The receiver is disposed above and between the first and second emitters, the emitters having a twice-reshaped emission beams angled upward to intersect the receiver field of view at a fixed range of distances from the periphery of the robot body to define the bounded detection volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Tom Bushman, James Herman, Seth Blitzblau, Nathan J. Deschaine, Andrew Scott Reichel
-
Patent number: 9919425Abstract: An autonomous robot comprises a robot body, a drive configured to propel the robot, a sensor system disposed on the robot body, and a navigation controller circuit in communication with the drive and the sensor system. The sensor system comprises at least one proximity sensor comprising a sensor body, and a first emitter, a second emitter and a receiver housed by the sensor body, wherein the receiver detects objects in a bounded detection volume of the receiver field of view aimed outward and downward beyond a periphery of the robot body. The receiver is disposed above and between the first and second emitters, the emitters having a twice-reshaped emission beams angled upward to intersect the receiver field of view at a fixed range of distances from the periphery of the robot body to define the bounded detection volume.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Tom Bushman, James Herman, Seth Blitzblau, Nathan J. Deschaine, Andrew Scott Reichel
-
Publication number: 20170072570Abstract: A robot includes a body and a bumper. The body is movable relative to a surface and includes a first portion of a sensor. The bumper is mounted on the body and movable relative to the body and includes a backing and a second portion of the sensor. The backing is movable relative to the body in response to a force applied to the bumper. The second portion of the sensor is attached to the backing and movable with the backing relative to the first portion of the sensor in response to a force applied to the bumper. The sensor is configured to output an electrical signal in response to a movement of the backing. The electrical signal is proportional to an amount of displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Victor Fay, Seth Blitzblau, Samuel Duffley, Kyle Dumont, Justin H. Woodman
-
Publication number: 20170001311Abstract: An autonomous robot comprises a robot body, a drive configured to propel the robot, a sensor system disposed on the robot body, and a navigation controller circuit in communication with the drive and the sensor system. The sensor system comprises at least one proximity sensor comprising a sensor body, and a first emitter, a second emitter and a receiver housed by the sensor body, wherein the receiver detects objects in a bounded detection volume of the receiver field of view aimed outward and downward beyond a periphery of the robot body. The receiver is disposed above and between the first and second emitters, the emitters having a twice-reshaped emission beams angled upward to intersect the receiver field of view at a fixed range of distances from the periphery of the robot body to define the bounded detection volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2015Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: Tom Bushman, James Herman, Seth Blitzblau, Nathan J. Deschaine, Andrew Scott Reichel
-
Publication number: 20160354935Abstract: A robot includes a body and a bumper. The body is movable relative to a surface and includes a first portion of a sensor. The bumper is mounted on the body and movable relative to the body and includes a backing and a second portion of the sensor. The backing is movable relative to the body in response to a force applied to the bumper. The second portion of the sensor is attached to the backing and movable with the backing relative to the first portion of the sensor in response to a force applied to the bumper. The sensor is configured to output an electrical signal in response to a movement of the backing. The electrical signal is proportional to an amount of displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Victor Fay, Seth Blitzblau, Samuel Duffley, Kyle Dumont, Justin H. Woodman
-
Patent number: 9505140Abstract: A robot includes a body and a bumper. The body is movable relative to a surface and includes a first portion of a sensor. The bumper is mounted on the body and movable relative to the body and includes a backing and a second portion of the sensor. The backing is movable relative to the body in response to a force applied to the bumper. The second portion of the sensor is attached to the backing and movable with the backing relative to the first portion of the sensor in response to a force applied to the bumper. The sensor is configured to output an electrical signal in response to a movement of the backing. The electrical signal is proportional to an amount of displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Victor Fay, Seth Blitzblau, Samuel Duffley, Kyle Dumont, Justin H. Woodman