Patents by Inventor Will Valladao

Will Valladao 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).

  • CONTROLLED RESISTANCE IN BACKDRIVABLE JOINTS
    Publication number: 20260151204
    Abstract: A computer-assisted system includes a manipulator arm including a joint, an actuator mechanism configured to drive the joint, and a controller. The controller is configured with a first control mode and a second control mode. In each of the first control mode and the second control mode, the controller commands the actuator mechanism to allow an external articulation to reconfigure the manipulator arm by backdriving the joint. The controller is configured to, in the first control mode: operate the joint in a servo control mode, and command the actuator mechanism to provide a first speed-dependent resistance independent from a position of the joint in response to the joint being backdriven at a first backdriven speed above a first speed threshold, the first speed-dependent resistance opposing the joint being backdriven. The controller is configured to, in the second control mode: operate the joint in a clutch control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2026
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Goran A. Lynch, Sean Duffy, Will Valladao, Amin Zeiaee
  • Controlled resistance in backdrivable joints
    Patent number: 12558176
    Abstract: A computer-assisted system includes a manipulator arm including a joint, an actuator mechanism configured to drive the joint, and a controller including a computer processor. The controller is communicatively coupled to the manipulator arm and configured with a first control mode and a second control mode. In each of the first control mode and the second control mode, the controller commands the actuator mechanism to allow an external articulation to reconfigure the manipulator arm by backdriving the joint. The first control mode is distinguished from the second control mode at least by the controller being configured to, in the first control mode, command the actuator mechanism to provide a first speed-dependent resistance in response to the joint being backdriven at a first backdriven speed above a first speed threshold. The first speed-dependent resistance opposes the joint being backdriven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Goran Lynch, Sean Duffy, Will Valladao, Amin Zeiaee
  • CONTROLLED RESISTANCE IN BACKDRIVABLE JOINTS
    Publication number: 20240189051
    Abstract: A computer-assisted system includes a manipulator arm including a joint, an actuator mechanism configured to drive the joint, and a controller including a computer processor. The controller is communicatively coupled to the manipulator arm and configured with a first control mode and a second control mode. In each of the first control mode and the second control mode, the controller commands the actuator mechanism to allow an external articulation to reconfigure the manipulator arm by backdriving the joint. The first control mode is distinguished from the second control mode at least by the controller being configured to, in the first control mode, command the actuator mechanism to provide a first speed-dependent resistance in response to the joint being backdriven at a first backdriven speed above a first speed threshold. The first speed-dependent resistance opposes the joint being backdriven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Goran Lynch, Sean Duffy, Will Valladao, Amin Zeiaee