Patents by Inventor Stephen Morfey

Stephen Morfey 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: 11338451
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a method involves identifying, by a processing system, an object to be gripped at a first location, commanding, by the processing system, a robotic actuator to move a gripper in a first direction so that the gripper makes contact with the object, wherein one or more teeth in a plurality of fingers associated with the gripper mechanically engage the object, and commanding, by the proceeding system, the robotic actuator to move the gripper in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction, causing the gripper to grip the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Dishcraft Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Ma, Paul M. Birkmeyer, Kent Anderson, Stephen Morfey
  • Patent number: 10899016
    Abstract: An example system includes a vehicle, a robot, and a controller. The vehicle may include an accelerator operator and a steering operator. The robot may include as accelerator actuator configured to operate the accelerator operator, and a steering actuator configured to operate-the steering operator. The controller is configured to: in response to an accelerator command, send a first signal to the accelerator actuator to operate the accelerator operator of the vehicle, and in response to a steering command, send a second, signal to the steering actuator to steer the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: SRI INTERNATIONAL, YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Thomas Low, Thomas De Candia, Seungkook Yun, Thomas Egan, Bryan Chavez, Alexander Kernbaum, Riley Shear, Leonard Gerard, Stephen Morfey, Richard Mahoney, Regis Vincent, Paul Birkmeyer, Hiroyuki Morita, Hirokatsu Muramatsu, Keiji Nishimura, Hiroshi Saijou, Akira Satou, Toshifumi Uchiyama, Hitoshi Watanabe, Shirou Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200391392
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a method involves identifying, by a processing system, an object to be gripped at a first location, commanding, by the processing system, a robotic actuator to move a gripper in a first direction so that the gripper makes contact with the object, wherein one or more teeth in a plurality of fingers associated with the gripper mechanically engage the object, and commanding, by the proceeding system, the robotic actuator to move the gripper in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction, causing the gripper to grip the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin MA, Paul M. BIRKMEYER, Kent ANDERSON, Stephen MORFEY
  • Patent number: 10759062
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a system includes a first finger that includes a plurality of teeth and a second finger that is mechanically coupled to the first finger and includes a plurality of teeth. The first finger and the second finger are configured to move apart when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a first direction against an object. The first finger and second finger are further configured to grip the object when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Dishcraft Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Ma, Paul M. Birkmeyer, Kent Anderson, Stephen Morfey
  • Publication number: 20190176346
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are described that are capable of gripping objects. In one implementation, a system includes a first finger that includes a plurality of teeth and a second finger that is mechanically coupled to the first finger and includes a plurality of teeth. The first finger and the second finger are configured to move apart when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a first direction against an object. The first finger and second finger are further configured to grip the object when the first finger and the second finger are moved in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin Ma, Paul M. Birkmeyer, Kent Anderson, Stephen Morfey
  • Publication number: 20180297209
    Abstract: An example system includes a vehicle, a robot, and a controller. The vehicle may include an accelerator operator and a steering operator. The robot may include as accelerator actuator configured to operate the accelerator operator, and a steering actuator configured to operate-the steering operator. The controller is configured to: in response to an accelerator command, send a first signal to the accelerator actuator to operate the accelerator operator of the vehicle, and in response to a steering command, send a second, signal to the steering actuator to steer the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas LOW, Thomas DE CANDIA, Seungkook YUN, Thomas EGAN, Bryan CHAVEZ, Alexander KERNBAUM, Riley SHEAR, Leonard GERARD, Stephen MORFEY, Richard MAHONEY, Regis VINCENT, Paul BIRKMEYER, Hiroyuki MORITA, Hirokatsu MURAMATSU, Keiji NISHIMURA, Hiroshi SAIJOU, Akira SATOU, Toshifumi UCHIYAMA, Hitoshi WATANABE, Shirou WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20160151921
    Abstract: An actuated joint comprising a first element and a second element movable one with respect to the other, a first actuator and a second actuator connected to said first and second element for controlling the movement of said joint in an agonist-antagonist way, wherein said first actuator has a nominal or maximum power greater than that of said second actuator and said second actuator comprises at least a first elastic element extendable so as to store a maximum amount of elastic energy greater than that storable by said first actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECHNOLOGIA
    Inventors: Nikolaos Tsagarakis, Stephen Morfey, Darwin Caldwell