Patents by Inventor Vincent Clerc

Vincent Clerc 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: 20170080816
    Abstract: A recharging assembly comprising a mobile vehicle and a recharging base of a form complementing the mobile vehicle and capable of receiving the mobile vehicle and intended to recharge a battery of a mobile vehicle comprising at least one wheel, the base connected to an electrical source, wherein the base comprises: a reception surface and a baseplate plane placed on a reference plane, the reception surface and the baseplate plane of the base forming an acute angle, a hemispherical cavity hollowed out in the reception surface to receive the at least one wheel, at least one electrical connector arranged to allow the connection of the base with the battery when the wheel is lowered into the hemispherical cavity. A recharging method implementing the recharging assembly is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Vincent CLERC, Nicolas GARCIA, Lucas SOUCHET, Vincent CHEVRY
  • Publication number: 20170080582
    Abstract: A humanoid-type robot comprises two elements and an articulation with at least one degree of freedom linking the two elements, the articulation allowing a travel in a given range in operational operation, a first of the two elements being intended to come into contact with an abutment belonging to a second of the two elements at the end of the range. According to the invention, the robot further comprises at least one switch. The switch is configured to actuate an electrical contact when a force exerted by the first element against the abutment exceeds a given force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Fabien MUGNIER, Vincent CLERC
  • Publication number: 20170072560
    Abstract: A humanoid-type robot comprises two elements and an articulation with at least one degree of freedom linking the two elements, the articulation allowing a travel in a given range in operational operation, a first of the two elements being intended to come into contact with an abutment belonging to a second of the two elements at the end of the range. According to the invention, the robot further comprises at least one switch. The switch is configured to actuate an electrical contact when a force exerted by the first element against the abutment exceeds a given force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Vincent CLERC
  • Publication number: 20170072576
    Abstract: A secured motorized articulation mounted between a first and a second limb of a humanoid-type robot, comprises: a motor comprising a fixed part linked to the first limb, and a mobile part that can be moved relative to the fixed part and linked to the second limb relative to the first limb, a brake capable of exerting a force on the mobile part of the motor by spring effect, to prevent the movement of the mobile part relative to the fixed part, an actuator capable of displacing the brake by opposing the spring effect, so as to release the mobile part of the motor from the force of the brake and allow the motor to move the mobile part relative to the fixed part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Vincent CLERC, Ludovic HOUCHU, Vincent CHEVRY
  • Publication number: 20170074984
    Abstract: An obstacle detection device to be fitted to a mobile vehicle able to move parallel to a reference plane comprises: at least two emitters of electromagnetic beams which are able to form two virtual planes in two different directions that are able to intersect one another and intersect a potential obstacle, at least one image sensor able to produce an image of the intersection of the virtual planes and of the potential obstacle, an image analysis means able to determine the presence of an obstacle, configured to compare the image with a reference image. A detection method employing such a device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Bruno MAISONNIER, Jörg ZIEGLER, Vincent CLERC, Nicolas GARCIA
  • Patent number: 9579926
    Abstract: A spherical wheel intended to move a vehicle and a vehicle implementing the wheel are provided, the wheel having its rotation motorized by a shaft able to rotate about an axis. The wheel (10) comprises two shells of which the surface follows the spherical surface of the wheel and each of which is bounded by a plane. The shells are each articulated by means of a pivot connection with respect to the shaft, an axis of each of the pivot connections being perpendicular to the plane of the relevant shell. The planes bounding the two shells are secant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ALDEBARAN ROBOTICS
    Inventors: Vincent Clerc, Bruno Maisonnier
  • Publication number: 20170043487
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing device for a humanoid robot, comprises a rigid structure linked to the humanoid robot, a deformable outer shell, and a shock-absorber; the shock-absorber consisting of a flexible cellular structure comprising a set of cells emerging in a main direction, and being secured to the rigid structure at a first end in the main direction, and linked to the deformable outer shell at a second end opposite the first in the main direction. Advantageously, the outer shell is also linked directly to the rigid structure by means of at least one absorbent fixing of silent block type. The invention relates also to a humanoid robot, and in particular the head of a humanoid robot, comprising such a shock-absorbing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Vincent CLERC, Ludovic TESSIER, Fabien MUGNIER
  • Publication number: 20160339589
    Abstract: A hand intended for a humanoid robot comprises a palm and at least one finger articulated to the palm, the finger comprising at least one phalanx and an articulation linking the phalanx to the palm, the phalanx extending in a main direction. According to the invention, the articulation comprises an elastic joining piece allowing several degrees of freedom. The hand comprises motorization means for a degree of freedom in rotation out of the degrees of freedom made possible by the joining piece, the motorized degree of freedom in rotation allowing a relative movement about an axis at right angles to the main direction of the phalanx. The other degrees of freedom out of the degrees of freedom made possible by the joining piece are not motorized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Jérémy LAVILLE, Vincent CLERC, Bruno MAISONNIER
  • Publication number: 20160325437
    Abstract: A hand intended for a humanoid robot comprises a palm and several fingers that are motorized relative to the palm. According to the invention, the hand comprises an actuator common to several fingers and a spreader making it possible to distribute a force exerted by the actuator toward the fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: ALDEBARAN ROBOTICS
    Inventors: Jérémy LAVILLE, Vincent CLERC, Bruno MAISONNIER
  • Publication number: 20160318337
    Abstract: A spherical wheel to move a vehicle comprises two caps, the surface of which follows the spherical surface of the wheel, the caps being articulated by means of a pivot link relative to a shaft. The wheel further comprises two casters each arranged in an opening of each of the caps, the opening centered about the axis of the corresponding pivot link, each caster arranged in the extension of the pivot link of the cap concerned. Each caster ensures a rolling at the level of the spherical surface. Radii S of the opening of each cap and r of the corresponding caster are defined to substantially balance forces needed to drive a cap and the corresponding caster when the wheel goes from bearing on the ground on a cap at the edge of the opening to bearing on the ground on the corresponding caster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Vincent CLERC, Philippe ROUX
  • Publication number: 20150129340
    Abstract: A spherical wheel intended to move a vehicle and a vehicle implementing the wheel are provided, the wheel having its rotation motorized by a shaft able to rotate about an axis. The wheel comprises two shells of which the surface follows the spherical surface of the wheel and each of which is bounded by a plane. The shells are each articulated by means of a pivot connection with respect to the shaft, an axis of each of the pivot connections being perpendicular to the plane of the relevant shell. The planes bounding the two shells are secant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Bruno Maisonnier, Vincent Clerc
  • Publication number: 20140319941
    Abstract: An electric motor and a printed circuit to ensure the electrical connection of the motor are provided. The printed circuit comprises: a central part to cover a first face of the electric motor; flexible tongues extending from the central part and to partly cover a second face of the motor and to be electrically connected with this second face; a first pair of studs to receive connections from the motor; a second pair of studs to receive power supply wires from the motor; tracks each connecting a stud of the first pair with a stud of the second pair; a filtering capacitor connected between the tracks; a ground plane covering most of the central part and the flexible tongues, the ground plane being electrically connected to a metal part forming the second face of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: ALDEBARAN ROBOTICS
    Inventor: Vincent Clerc
  • Patent number: D719620
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Vincent Clerc
  • Patent number: D775071
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Aldebaran Robotics
    Inventors: Robert Hong, Alexandre Cotte, Vincent Clerc