Patents by Inventor Steven V. Shamlian
Steven V. Shamlian 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: 10429851Abstract: A proximity sensor includes first and second sensors disposed on a sensor body adjacent to one another. The first sensor is one of an emitter and a receiver. The second sensor is the other one of an emitter and a receiver. A third sensor is disposed adjacent the second sensor opposite the first sensor. The third sensor is an emitter if the first sensor is an emitter or a receiver if the first sensor is a receiver. Each sensor is positioned at an angle with respect to the other two sensors. Each sensor has a respective field of view. A first field of view intersects a second field of view defining a first volume that detects a floor surface within a first threshold distance. The second field of view intersects a third field of view defining a second volume that detects a floor surface within a second threshold distance.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Steven V. Shamlian, Samuel Duffley, Nikolai Romanov, Dhiraj Goel, Frederic D. Hook, Mario E. Munich
-
Patent number: 9902069Abstract: A robot system includes a mobile robot having a controller executing a control system for controlling operation of the robot, a cloud computing service in communication with the controller of the robot, and a remote computing device in communication with the cloud computing service. The remote computing device communicates with the robot through the cloud computing service.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Timothy S. Farlow, Michael T. Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Chikyung Won, Steven V. Shamlian, Mark Chiappetta
-
Patent number: 9744677Abstract: A robotic end effector includes a finger and at least one actuator. The finger extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a finger axis. The finger includes a first phalanx proximate the proximal end, a second phalanx proximate the distal end, and a knuckle joint including at least one vertebra interposed between and separating the first and second phalanxes. The knuckle joint is configured to permit the second phalanx to pivot relative to the first phalanx about a pivot axis transverse to the finger axis. Each vertebra has an axial thickness extending along the finger axis and a lateral width extending perpendicular to its axial thickness, and its lateral width is greater than its axial thickness. The at least one actuator is operable to move the second phalanx relative to the first phalanx about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Timothy R. Ohm, Mark R. Claffee, Erik Amaral, Steven V. Shamlian, Annan M. Mozeika
-
Publication number: 20170129110Abstract: A robotic end effector includes a finger and at least one actuator. The finger extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a finger axis. The finger includes a first phalanx proximate the proximal end, a second phalanx proximate the distal end, and a knuckle joint including at least one vertebra interposed between and separating the first and second phalanxes. The knuckle joint is configured to permit the second phalanx to pivot relative to the first phalanx about a pivot axis transverse to the finger axis. Each vertebra has an axial thickness extending along the finger axis and a lateral width extending perpendicular to its axial thickness, and its lateral width is greater than its axial thickness. The at least one actuator is operable to move the second phalanx relative to the first phalanx about the pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Timothy R. Ohm, Mark R. Claffee, Erik Amaral, Steven V. Shamlian, Annan M. Mozeika
-
Publication number: 20170031366Abstract: A proximity sensor includes first and second sensors disposed on a sensor body adjacent to one another. The first sensor is one of an emitter and a receiver. The second sensor is the other one of an emitter and a receiver. A third sensor is disposed adjacent the second sensor opposite the first sensor. The third sensor is an emitter if the first sensor is an emitter or a receiver if the first sensor is a receiver. Each sensor is positioned at an angle with respect to the other two sensors. Each sensor has a respective field of view. A first field of view intersects a second field of view defining a first volume that detects a floor surface within a first threshold distance. The second field of view intersects a third field of view defining a second volume that detects a floor surface within a second threshold distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Steven V. Shamlian, Samuel Duffley, Nikolai Romanov, Dhiraj Goel, Frederic D. Hook, Mario E. Munich
-
Patent number: 9545727Abstract: A robotic end effector includes a finger and at least one actuator. The finger extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a finger axis. The finger includes a first phalanx proximate the proximal end, a second phalanx proximate the distal end, and a knuckle joint including at least one vertebra interposed between and separating the first and second phalanxes. The knuckle joint is configured to permit the second phalanx to pivot relative to the first phalanx about a pivot axis transverse to the finger axis. Each vertebra has an axial thickness extending along the finger axis and a lateral width extending perpendicular to its axial thickness, and its lateral width is greater than its axial thickness. The at least one actuator is operable to move the second phalanx relative to the first phalanx about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Steven V. Shamlian, Mark R. Claffee, Erik Amaral, Timothy R. Ohm, Annan M. Mozeika
-
Patent number: 9498886Abstract: A mobile human interface robot including a drive system having at least one drive wheel driven by a corresponding drive motor, a localization system in communication with the drive system, and a power source in communication with the drive system and the localization system. The robot further including a touch response input supported above the drive system. Activation of the touch response input modifies delivery of power to the drive system to reduce a drive load of the corresponding drive motor of the at least one drive wheel white allowing continued delivery of power to the localization system.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael T. Rosenstein, Chikyung Won, Geoffrey Lansberry, Steven V. Shamlian, Michael Halloran, Mark Chiappetta, Thomas P. Allen
-
Patent number: 9442488Abstract: A proximity sensor includes first and second sensors disposed on a sensor body adjacent to one another. The first sensor is one of an emitter and a receiver. The second sensor is the other one of an emitter and a receiver. A third sensor is disposed adjacent the second sensor opposite the first sensor. The third sensor is an emitter if the first sensor is an emitter or a receiver if the first sensor is a receiver. Each sensor is positioned at an angle with respect to the other two sensors. Each sensor has a respective field of view. A first field of view intersects a second field of view defining a first volume that detects a floor surface within a first threshold distance. The second field of view intersects a third field of view defining a second volume that detects a floor surface within a second threshold distance.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Steven V. Shamlian, Samuel Duffley, Nikolai Romanov, Dhiraj Goel, Frederic D. Hook, Mario E. Munich
-
Patent number: 9400503Abstract: A method of object detection for a mobile robot includes emitting a speckle pattern of light onto a scene about the robot while maneuvering the robot across a work surface, receiving reflections of the emitted speckle pattern off surfaces of a target object in the scene, determining a distance of each reflecting surface of the target object, constructing a three-dimensional depth map of the target object, and classifying the target object.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Justin H. Kearns, Orjeta Taka, Robert Todd Pack, Michael T. Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Timothy S. Farlow, Steven V. Shamlian, Chikyung Won, Mark Chiappetta, Jasper Fourways Vicenti
-
Publication number: 20150158182Abstract: A robot system includes a mobile robot having a controller executing a control system for controlling operation of the robot, a cloud computing service in communication with the controller of the robot, and a remote computing device in communication with the cloud computing service. The remote computing device communicates with the robot through the cloud computing service.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Timothy S. Farlow, Michael T. Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Chikyung Won, Steven V. Shamlian, Mark Chiappetta
-
Publication number: 20150120057Abstract: A mobile robot including a robot body, a drive system supporting the robot body, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The robot also includes an actuator moving a portion of the robot body through a volume of space adjacent the mobile robot and a sensor pod in communication with the controller. The sensor pod includes a collar rotatably supported and having a curved wall formed at least partially as a surface of revolution about a vertical axis. The sensor pod also includes a volumetric point cloud sensor housed by the collar and observing the volume of space adjacent the robot from within the collar along an observation axis extending through the curved wall. A collar actuator rotates the collar and the volumetric point cloud sensor together about the collar axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Cheuk Wah Wong, Eben Rauhut, Brian C. Benson, JR., Peter J. Lydon, Michael T. Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Steven V. Shamlian, Chikyung Won, Mark Chiappetta, Justin H. Kearns, Orjeta Taka, Robert Todd Pack, Timothy S. Farlow, Jasper Fourways Vicenti
-
Patent number: 9014848Abstract: A robot system includes a mobile robot having a controller executing a control system for controlling operation of the robot, a cloud computing service in communication with the controller of the robot, and a remote computing device in communication with the cloud computing service. The remote computing device communicates with the robot through the cloud computing service.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Timothy S. Farlow, Michael Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Chikyung Won, Steven V. Shamlian, Mark Chiappetta
-
Publication number: 20150073646Abstract: A mobile robot that includes a drive system, a controller in communication with the drive system, and a volumetric point cloud imaging device supported above the drive system at a height of greater than about one feet above the ground and directed to be capable of obtaining a point cloud from a volume of space that includes a floor plane in a direction of movement of the mobile robot. The controller receives point cloud signals from the imaging device and issues drive commands to the drive system based at least in part on the received point cloud signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael T. Rosenstein, Chikyung Won, Michael Halloran, Steven V. Shamlian, Mark Chiappetta
-
Publication number: 20150073598Abstract: A mobile human interface robot including a drive system having at least one drive wheel driven by a corresponding drive motor, a localization system in communication with the drive system, and a power source in communication with the drive system and the localization system. The robot further including a touch response input supported above the drive system. Activation of the touch response input modifies delivery of power to the drive system to reduce a drive load of the corresponding drive motor of the at least one drive wheel white allowing continued delivery of power to the localization system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael T. Rosenstein, Chikyung Won, Geoffrey Lansberry, Steven V. Shamlian, Michael Halloran, Mark Chiappetta, Thoma P. Allen
-
Patent number: 8958911Abstract: A mobile robot including a robot body, a drive system supporting the robot body, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The robot also includes an actuator moving a portion of the robot body through a volume of space adjacent the mobile robot and a sensor pod in communication with the controller. The sensor pod includes a collar rotatably supported and having a curved wall formed at least partially as a surface of revolution about a vertical axis. The sensor pod also includes a volumetric point cloud sensor housed by the collar and observing the volume of space adjacent the robot from within the collar along an observation axis extending through the curved wall. A collar actuator rotates the collar and the volumetric point cloud sensor together about the collar axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Cheuk Wah Wong, Eben Rauhut, Brian C. Benson, Peter J. Lydon, Michael T. Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Steven V. Shamlian, Chikyung Won, Mark Chiappetta, Justin H. Kearns, Orjeta Taka, Robert Todd Pack, Timothy S. Farlow, Jasper Fourways Vicenti
-
Patent number: 8935005Abstract: A method of operating a mobile robot to traverse a threshold includes detecting a threshold proximate the robot. The robot includes a holonomic drive system having first, second, and third drive elements configured to maneuver the robot omni-directionally. The method further includes moving the first drive element onto the threshold from a first side and moving the second drive element onto the threshold to place both the first and second drive elements on the threshold. The method includes moving the first drive element off a second side of the threshold, opposite to the first side of the threshold, and moving the third drive element onto the threshold, placing both the second and third drive elements on the threshold. The method includes moving both the second and third drive elements off the second side of the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael Rosenstein, Steven V. Shamlian, Chikyung Won, Michael Halloran, Mark Chiappetta, Thomas P. Allen
-
Patent number: 8930019Abstract: A mobile human interface robot that includes a drive system, a controller in communication with the dive system, and an electronic display supported above the drive system and in communication with the controller. The controller includes a central processing unit, a general purpose graphics processing unit, and memory in electrical communication with the central processing unit and the general purpose graphics processing unit. Moreover, the controller has a display operating state and a driving operating state. The controller executes graphics computations on the general purpose graphics processing unit for displaying graphics on the electronic display during the display operating state; and the controller executes mobility computations on the general purpose graphics processing unit for issuing commands to the drive system during the driving operating state.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Thomas P. Allen, Justin H. Kearns, Orjeta Taka, Timothy S. Farlow, Robert Todd Pack, Chikyung Won, Michael T. Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Steven V. Shamlian, Mark Chiappetta
-
Patent number: 8918209Abstract: A mobile robot that includes a drive system, a controller in communication with the drive system, and a volumetric point cloud imaging device supported above the drive system at a height of greater than about one feet above the ground and directed to be capable of obtaining a point cloud from a volume of space that includes a floor plane in a direction of movement of the mobile robot. The controller receives point cloud signals from the imaging device and issues drive commands to the drive system based at least in part on the received point cloud signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael T. Rosenstein, Michael Halloran, Steven V. Shamlian, Chikyung Won, Mark Chiappetta
-
Patent number: 8918213Abstract: A mobile human interface robot that includes a base defining a vertical center axis and a forward drive direction and a holonomic drive system supported by the base. The drive system has first, second, and third driven drive wheels, each trilaterally spaced about the vertical center axis and having a drive direction perpendicular to a radial axis with respect to the vertical center axis. The robot further includes a controller in communication with the holonomic drive system, a torso supported above the base, and a touch sensor system in communication with the controller. The touch sensor system is responsive to human contact. The controller issues drive commands to the holonomic drive system based on a touch signal received from the touch sensor system.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Michael Rosenstein, Chikyung Won, Geoffrey B. Lansberry, Steven V. Shamlian, Michael Halloran, Mark Chiappetta, Thomas P. Allen
-
Patent number: 8862271Abstract: A proximity sensor includes first and second sensors disposed on a sensor body adjacent to one another. The first sensor is one of an emitter and a receiver. The second sensor is the other one of an emitter and a receiver. A third sensor is disposed adjacent the second sensor opposite the first sensor. The third sensor is an emitter if the first sensor is an emitter or a receiver if the first sensor is a receiver. Each sensor is positioned at an angle with respect to the other two sensors. Each sensor has a respective field of view. A first field of view intersects a second field of view defining a first volume that detects a floor surface within a first threshold distance. The second field of view intersects a third field of view defining a second volume that detects a floor surface within a second threshold distance.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Steven V. Shamlian, Samuel Duffley, Nikolai Romanov, Frederick D. Hook, Mario E. Munich, Dhiraj Goel