Cylindrical Patents (Class 901/17)
  • Patent number: 11832911
    Abstract: A surgical module is supported by manipulators that are removably attached to the surgical module. The surgical module may enable operation of surgical tools by providing an integration between actuating mechanisms of the manipulators and actuating mechanisms of the surgical tools. Alternatively or additionally, the surgical module may enable operation of the surgical tools by providing physical access for deploying surgical tools that are operatively connected to the manipulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Rosa, Gary S. Guthart, Simon P. DiMaio
  • Patent number: 11805634
    Abstract: A dispensing system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame, a dispensing unit configured to dispense viscous material, and a gantry assembly coupled to the frame. The gantry assembly includes a gantry configured to support the dispensing unit and to move the dispensing unit in x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions and a tilt and rotate subassembly configured to tilt and rotate the dispensing unit. The dispensing system further includes a controller configured to control dispensing unit and the gantry assembly to perform a dispense operation on the electronic substrate. The controller is configured to simultaneously coordinate the movement of the gantry assembly and the tilt and rotate subassembly to position and orient the nozzle of the dispensing unit a predetermined distance and orientation from the electronic substrate while dispensing material along a three-dimensional path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Forget, Thomas J. Karlinski, Scott A. Reid
  • Patent number: 11797021
    Abstract: A robot includes a driver; a camera; and a processor configured to: during an interaction session in which a first user identified in an image obtained through the camera is set as an interaction subject, perform an operation corresponding to a user command received from the first user, and determine whether interruption by a second user identified in an image obtained through the camera occurs, and based on determining that the interruption by the second user occurred, control the driver such that the robot performs a feedback motion for the interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaemin Chun, Youngsun Kim, Minseok Han, Segwon Han
  • Patent number: 11787668
    Abstract: This crane is provided with: a operable function unit; an operation unit; an actuator; a generation unit which generates a first control signal for the actuator on the basis of an operation input; a plurality of wire ropes; a plurality of hooks suspended from a leading end section of a boom by the plurality of wire ropes, respectively; a hook detection unit which detects, from among the plurality of hooks, an unused hook suspending no load; a calculation unit which calculates a resonance frequency for a wire rope, among the plurality of wire ropes, that suspends the detected unused hook; a filter unit which generates a filter on the basis of the resonance frequency and generates a second control signal by filtering the first control signal using the filter; and a control unit which controls the actuator on the basis of the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Kanda, Kazuma Mizuki
  • Patent number: 11792484
    Abstract: An information providing system includes: a memory unit configured to store an image data acquired by an imaging unit a robot in association with a position data and a time data acquired by an information acquisition portion; a data extraction portion configured to extract an image data corresponding to a time and a position instructed by the user from among the stored image data; and a display unit configured to display an image based on the extracted image data. The memory unit stores the image data acquired by the imaging unit of a first robot moving with a first user and the image data acquired by the imaging unit of a second robot moving with a second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Hiruta, Daisuke Muramatsu, Shiro Kitamura, Shuji Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11752637
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robotic device based on observed object locations includes obtaining a group of observations of an object type in an environment based on identifying one or more first objects associated with the object type over a period of time in the environment. The method also includes localizing the object type in the environment based on a location cluster comprising a group of nodes. Each node in the group of nodes associated with one observation of the group of observations. The method further includes generating a cost map indicating a probability distribution of the object type in relation to the localized object type in the environment. The method still further includes controlling the robotic device to perform an action in the environment based on the cost map and a map of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Brandon Northcutt
  • Patent number: 11745351
    Abstract: A robotic semantic system includes one or more smart robotic devices, which may be configured as a stack of modules including a mobility module and one or more sensor modules. A plurality of robotic modules is communicatively coupled to one another, and use variable semantic coherent inferences to allow the devices to perform semantic augmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Lucomm Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucian Cristache
  • Patent number: 11717843
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automated system for spraying a wall of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Elid Technology International Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Hui Eng Lim
  • Patent number: 11717203
    Abstract: Described herein are assistant robots that observe signs of core health, health dangers, and/or signs of medical distress in a home or at work. As such, the assistant robots can take actions to prevent dangerous situations, diagnose health problems, respond to requests for help, and provide regular treatments or analysis of a person's medical state. The assistant robots can learn users' habits or be provided with knowledge regarding humans in its environment. The assistant robots develop a schedule and contextual understanding of the persons' behavior and needs. The assistant robots may interact, understand, and communicate with people before, during, or after providing assistance. The robot can combine gesture, clothing, emotional aspect, time, pose recognition, action recognition, and other observational data to understand people's medical condition, current activity, and future intended activities and intents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: AEOLUS ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Sławomir Wojciechowski, Gregg Podnar, T. William Mather, Theodore Enns, Daniel Oblinger
  • Patent number: 11718479
    Abstract: A method of processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of perceiving identifying indicia representative of an identity of a plurality of objects and directing the plurality of objects toward an input area from at least one input conveyance system, acquiring an object from the plurality of objects at the input area using an end effector of the programmable motion device, and moving the acquired object toward an identified processing location using the programmable motion device, said identified processing location being associated with the identifying indicia and said identified processing location being provided as one of a plurality of processing locations that are radially spaced from the programmable motion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11707849
    Abstract: A program identification method is for identifying an application program that is stored in a terminal device coupled to a robot system and that is used for teaching work on an operation of a robot provided in the robot system. The method includes: acquiring program information corresponding to the application program from the terminal device; and comparing the program information with first information stored in the robot system and thus identifying whether the application program is a first application program corresponding to the first information or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Kaga, Jiro Tsuruno, Naoki Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 11691366
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and a method for manufacturing fittings and connections for biaxially-oriented plastic tubes in an integral way from straight preformed tubes, with the possibility of adjusting and distributing the thicknesses as well as adjusting the specific stretching in the different areas of the fittings, allowing them to be reinforced or optimized during the method itself and without causing an increase in the production time or an increase in the raw material used, such that it allows for the manufacture of fittings of different geometric shapes (curves, tapers, couplers, branches, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: MOLECOR TECNOLOGIA, S.L.
    Inventor: Igancio Munoz De Juan
  • Patent number: 11673259
    Abstract: This application describes multi-stage stop devices for robotic arms. During a first stage, rotational motion of a link of a robotic arm compresses a compressible member of the multi-stage stop device to absorb and dissipate at least some of the force generated by the collision. A second stage provides a hard stop the stops any further rotation. The multi-stage stop devices described herein can include a collapsing pin configured to compress a compressible member during the first stage. After the pin has collapsed a rigid sidewall provides a hard stop preventing further rotation during the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Norboe
  • Patent number: 11670156
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for reminding a person to perform an activity. The system comprise a robot configured to carry out different behaviors, wherein the activity and its corresponding trigger condition are set by a user and the system selects, from the different behaviors, a first behavior assigned to the activity, senses the person, determines, based on the sensors information, whether or not the activity is performed by the person in accordance with the trigger condition. The robot carries out the selected behavior if the activity is not performed by the person in accordance with the trigger condition, wherein after or during the selected behavior is carried out, an activity of the person is determined based on the information derived from the sensors to select a second behavior from the different behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH, Sproutel Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Weisswange, Jens Schmüdderich, Aaron Horowitz, Joel Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11660766
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handling device for handling objects, including a base unit which extends overall in an elongate manner along a base axis from a first end to a second end, wherein a flange portion is arranged at the first end for fastening the handling device to a robot arm and wherein a pivot unit having a pivot portion is arranged at the second end, wherein the pivot portion is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis by a pivot joint, wherein the base unit has a pneumatic cylinder which is designed to pivot the pivot portion about the pivot axis, and including a couplable or coupled, pneumatically operated end effector for gripping an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: J.Schmalz GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Frey, Simon Eisele, Florian Schittenhelm, Bernd Heinzmann, Jan Gauß
  • Patent number: 11630222
    Abstract: To provide a technique with which it is possible to make collimator plates resistant to deformation, and reduce position offsets in the collimator plates, a collimator module (1) comprises a plurality of collimator plate sets (2) lined up side by side in a channel direction (CH), wherein each collimator plate set (2) comprises a first collimator plate (3), a second collimator plate (4), and a joint layer (5) disposed between the first collimator plate (3) and second collimator plate (4) for adhesively bonding the first collimator plate (3) and second collimator plate (4) together, and the plurality of collimator plate sets (2) are lined up side by side in the channel direction (CH) with an air layer (20) intervening between adjacent two of the plurality of collimator plate sets (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Katsumasa Nose
  • Patent number: 11607284
    Abstract: A surgical instrument holder includes a carriage, a housing, and a drive assembly. The carriage is configured for engagement to a surgical robotic arm and for supporting an instrument drive unit. The housing extends from the carriage and defines a channel. The drive assembly includes a pulley, a belt, and an annular member. The pulley is rotatably disposed within the housing and in operable engagement with a motor of the carriage such that actuation of the motor rotates the pulley. The belt is rotatably disposed within the housing and in operable engagement with the pulley such that rotation of the pulley effects rotation of the belt. The annular member is disposed within the channel of the housing and configured for non-rotatable receipt of an instrument drive unit. The annular member is in operable engagement with the belt such that rotation of the belt effects rotation of the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Mike Zemlok, Jaimeen Kapadia, Mark MacLeod, Chi Min Seow, Josiah Rosmarin
  • Patent number: 11577400
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for managing a robot system. In one method, orientations for links in the robot system may be obtained when the links are arranged in at least one posture, here each of the orientations indicates a direction pointed by one of the links. At least one image of an object placed in the robot system may be obtained from a vision device equipped on one of the links. Based on the orientations and the at least one image, a first mapping may be determined between a vision coordinate system of the vision device and a link coordination system of the link. Further, embodiments of present disclosure provide apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for managing a robot system. The vision device may be calibrated by the first mapping and may be used to manage operations of the robot system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Changnian Qian, Yanjun Wang, Bojun Ma
  • Patent number: 11559894
    Abstract: An object handling control device includes one or more processors configured to acquire at least object information and status information representing an initial position and a destination of an object; set, when a grasper grasping the object moves from the initial position to the destination, a first region, a second region, and a third region in accordance with the object information and the status information; and calculate a moving route along which the object is moved from the initial position to the destination with reference to the first region, the second region, and the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Oka, Yasunori Chiba, Tetsuya Masuda
  • Patent number: 11554916
    Abstract: A storage, retrieval and processing system is disclosed for processing objects. The system includes a plurality of bins including objects to be distributed by the processing system, said plurality of bins being provided in at least a partially generally circular arrangement, a programmable motion device that includes an end effector for grasping and moving any of the objects, said programmable motion device being capable of reaching any of the objects within the plurality of bins, and a plurality of destination containers for receiving any of the objects from the plurality of bins, said plurality of destination containers being provided in a region that is generally within the at least partially generally circular arrangement of the plurality of bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11534251
    Abstract: Telerobotic, telesurgical, and/or surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods employ surgical robotic linkages that may have more degrees of freedom than an associated surgical end effector in space. A processor can calculate a tool motion that includes pivoting of the tool about an aperture site. Linkages movable along a range of configurations for a given end effector position may be driven toward configurations which inhibit collisions. Refined robotic linkages and methods for their use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Nowlin, Paul W. Mohr, Bruce M. Schena, David Q. Larkin, Gary S. Guthart
  • Patent number: 11515188
    Abstract: Wafer boat handling device, configured to be positioned under a process chamber of a vertical batch furnace, and comprising a rotatable table comprising a first and a second wafer boat support surface. Each wafer boat support surface is configured for supporting a wafer boat. The rotatable table is rotatable by an actuator to rotate both the first and the second wafer support surfaces to a load/receive position in which the wafer boat handling device is configured to load a wafer boat vertically from the rotatable table into the process chamber and to receive the wafer boat from the process chamber onto the rotatable table, a cooldown position in which the wafer boat handling device is configured to cool down a wafer boat, and a transfer position for transferring wafers to and/or from the wafer boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Christianus G. M. de Ridder, Theodorus G. M. Oosterlaken
  • Patent number: 11493910
    Abstract: A processing system for processing objects using a programmable motion device is disclosed. The processing system includes a perception unit for perceiving identifying indicia representative of an identity of a plurality of objects received from an input conveyance system, and an acquisition system for acquiring an object from the plurality of objects at an input area using an end effector of the programmable motion device. The programmable motion device is adapted for assisting in the delivery of the object to an identified processing location. The identified processing location is associated with the identifying indicia and the identified processing location is provided as one of a plurality of processing locations. The system also includes a delivery system for receiving the object in a carrier and for delivering the object toward the identified processing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11479010
    Abstract: An embossing device (1) includes an embossing area in which are arranged at least: a first embossing roller (5); a second embossing roller (7;9); a first pressure roller (11) co-acting with the first embossing roller; and a second pressure roller (15) co-acting with the second embossing roller. The embossing device further includes a storage unit (51) configured for containing spare embossing rollers (55, 57, 59), for replacing one or the other of the embossing rollers (5, 7) in the embossing area. The storage unit (51) develops substantially vertically, with mutually superposed seats (53) for receiving embossing rollers (55, 57, 59, 5, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Daniele Dettori, Gionata Pardini
  • Patent number: 11472023
    Abstract: A robotic apparatus includes a first guide rail; an elongate support attached to the first guide rail, the elongate support being movable along the first guide rail in two directions and rotatable at each position along the first guide rail; a first limb movable along a second guide rail in the elongate support, the first limb being extendable and retractable; a second limb pivotably attached to the first limb; an end effector mount located at the second limb and rotatable at one end of the second limb; and a third guide rail attached to the elongate support to guide movement of the elongate support in the two directions that the elongate support is movable along the first guide rail; and driving mechanisms to drive movements of the robotic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Swaminathan Vangal Ramamurthy, Raja Nagarajan, Shinya Komori
  • Patent number: 11465292
    Abstract: Provided is a modular movable robot that is capable of providing various services and realizing automatic driving. The modular movable robot includes a main body, a driving unit mounted on a lower end of the main body so that the main body is movable, a module coupling plate mounted on an upper end of the main body to detect a module coupled to a top surface thereof, a body display unit extending from one end of the module coupling plate in a vertical direction, a head display unit rotatably mounted on an upper end of the body display unit, and a control unit configured to receive information with respect to the detected module from the module coupling plate to control at least one of the body display unit or the head display unit on the basis of the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yousook Eun, Jinsu Kim, Taewoo Yoo, Soonho Jung
  • Patent number: 9429934
    Abstract: A remote control station that controls a robot through a network. The remote control station transmits a robot control command that includes information to move the robot. The remote control station monitors at least one network parameter and scales the robot control command as a function of the network parameter. For example, the remote control station can monitor network latency and scale the robot control command to slow down the robot with an increase in the latency of the network. Such an approach can reduce the amount of overshoot or overcorrection by a user driving the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: INTOUCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Amante Mangaser, Jonathan Southard, Marco Pinter, John Cody Herzog, Charles Steve Jordan, Yulun Wang, James Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 9023060
    Abstract: A robotic surgery system comprises a mounting base, a plurality of surgical instruments, and an articulate support assembly. Each instrument is insertable into a patient through an associated minimally invasive aperture to a desired internal surgical site. The articulate support assembly movably supports the instruments relative to the base. The support generally comprises an orienting platform, a platform linkage movably supporting the orienting platform relative to the base, and a plurality of manipulators mounted to the orienting platform, wherein each manipulator movably supports an associated instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gary S. Guthart, David J. Rosa
  • Patent number: 8997438
    Abstract: A robotic case packing system loads articles from one conveyor into containers on another conveyor using a robotic pick and place mechanism and a set of pivoting bins. A controller moves the robotic mechanism in first picking movements to pick and place articles from the conveyor into the first bin. Once the first bin is full, the controller pivots the first bin to allow the articles stacked in the first bin to be loaded into a container held below. While the first bin is pivoting, the controller moves the robotic mechanism to pick and place articles from the conveyor into the second bin. The process repeats with the controller pivoting the second bin during the picking movements used to fill the first bin and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: David M. Fallas
  • Patent number: 8992160
    Abstract: A transfer robot according to an embodiment includes an arm and a body. The arm is provided, at a terminal end thereof, with a robot hand transferring a thin plate-like workpiece, and operates in horizontal directions. The body includes a lifting and lowering mechanism that lifts and lowers the arm. In the transfer robot, at least a part of the body is disposed outside a side wall of a transfer room that is connected to an opening and closing device opening and closing a storage container for the thin plate-like workpiece and to a processing room processing the thin plate-like workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Masatoshi Furuichi
  • Patent number: 8951002
    Abstract: A dual arm robot assembly has two arms each having a set of joint/link pairs that, in conjunction with an actuator assembly. Define at least three degrees of freedom to provide independent horizontal translation and rotation of a distalmost link. A vertical motion mechanism is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Izya Kremerman
  • Patent number: 8920103
    Abstract: A rotary end effector for use for the high speed handling of workpieces, such as solar cells, is disclosed. The rotary end effector is capable of infinite rotation. The rotary end effector has a gripper bracket, capable of supporting a plurality of grippers, arranged in any configuration, such as a 4×1 linear array. Each gripper is in communication with a suction system, wherein, in some embodiments, each gripper can be selectively enabled and disabled. Provisions are also made to allow electrical components, such as proximity sensors, to be mounted on the rotating gripper bracket. In another embodiment, an end effector with multiple surfaces, each with a plurality of grippers, is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Schaller, Robert Vopat
  • Patent number: 8918212
    Abstract: A bend sensor is used to determine force applied to a robotic arm. The force may be an external force applied to the arm, an internal actuation force, or both. In some aspects, a stiffening element is used to restore the arm to a minimum kinematic energy state. In other aspects, the stiffening element is eliminated, and the arm is fully actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Q. Larkin, Vincent Duindam
  • Patent number: 8892260
    Abstract: A system including a mobile telepresence robot, a telepresence computing device in wireless communication with the robot, and a host computing device in wireless communication with the robot and the telepresence computing device. The host computing device relays User Datagram Protocol traffic between the robot and the telepresence computing device through a firewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Cross, Tony L. Campbell
  • Patent number: 8834489
    Abstract: A robotic surgery system comprises a mounting base, a plurality of surgical instruments, and an articulate support assembly. Each instrument is insertable into a patient through an associated minimally invasive aperture to a desired internal surgical site. The articulate support assembly movably supports the instruments relative to the base. The support generally comprises an orienting platform, a platform linkage movably supporting the orienting platform relative to the base, and a plurality of manipulators mounted to the orienting platform, wherein each manipulator movably supports an associated instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gary S. Guthart, David J. Rosa
  • Patent number: 8723957
    Abstract: Provided is a method which reduces the power consumption of a camera for detecting a user's gesture, in a device that detects the user's gesture and performs a command corresponding to the detected gesture. Moreover, provided is a method which turns off a camera or drives the camera in an ultra low power mode when there is no user input, and detects presence of a user to activate the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungun Kim, Soungmin Im
  • Patent number: 8577501
    Abstract: A remote control unit configured to wirelessly control a mobile robot moving through an environment and having a robot camera. The remote control unit comprises a privacy button operable by a local user and configured to engage a privacy mode of the mobile robot, and a wireless transmitter configured to emit a wireless control signal to the mobile robot based on input from a keypad of the RC unit. The wireless control signal is configured to cause the robot camera to block the field of view of the robot camera such that the environment of the mobile robot is obscured when the privacy mode of the mobile robot is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Cross, Tony Campbell
  • Patent number: 8483930
    Abstract: A robot and so forth capable of avoiding the mutual interference of a plurality of active sensors mounted on the other robots so that a task may be smoothly executed by each of a plurality of robots are provided. If an active sensor mounted on each of the plurality of robots (R) may mutually interfere with each other and if the degree of contribution of the active sensor to a task being executed by the self robot (R) is lower than that of the active sensor of the other robot (R) to the task being executed by the other robot (R), the sensitivity of the active sensor of the self robot (R) is decreased. As a result thereof, the mutual interference of the active sensors can be avoided, and the robot (R) can be prevented from causing trouble to the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Kawaguchi, Taro Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8479607
    Abstract: A work transfer apparatus includes a work carrying mechanism, a driving source that drives the work carrying mechanism, a sealed box that accommodates the driving source in a hermetically sealed state, and a coolant circulation path provided in the sealed box for cooling the driving source. The sealed box includes a box body with an opening, and a partition lid for closing the opening. The partition lid includes an outer plate member and an inner plate member superposed on the outer plate member. The coolant circulation path is disposed at the interface between the outer plate member and the inner plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: DAIHEN Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Fukuma, Hideki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8444368
    Abstract: This invention provides a substrate transport apparatus (100) which transports a substrate (W) placed on a hand portion (10) to a processing apparatus or a predetermined storage unit. The substrate transport apparatus (100) includes a moving means (20) for supporting the proximal side (10b) of the hand portion (10) serving as one end of the hand portion (10), and reciprocally moving the hand portion (10) in the direction of its extension, a tilt detection means (30) for detecting the tilt of a distal end (10a) of the hand portion (10) with respect to the horizontal direction, which accompanies flexure of the hand portion (10) upon placing the substrate (W) on the hand portion (10), and a tilt correction means (40) for generating a pitching motion of the hand portion (10) as a whole so as to cancel the tilt of the distal end (10a) of the hand portion (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hirata Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Irie
  • Patent number: 8326590
    Abstract: A method for simulating a movement zone of a robot having at least one data processing installation, simulating at least one movement path of the robot, comprises providing a number of selectable points on the at least one movement path of the robot, calculating a braking path for each of the selectable points, calculating a virtual movement zone based on the braking paths and a maximum position reachable by the robot for the respective at least one movement path, and carrying out the simulation of functions of the robot off-line using a software module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Adam Loeschner, Christoph Winterhalter, Kevin Behnisch, Roland Krieger
  • Patent number: 8272830
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a transfer robot that may be used in a vacuum environment is described. The transfer robot includes a lift assembly comprising a first platform and a second platform coupled to the first platform by a plurality of support members, the plurality of support members comprising a first pair of support members and a second pair of support members, a first drive assembly coupled to a portion of the plurality of support members, the first drive assembly providing a motive force to the plurality of support members to move the second platform in a first linear direction relative to the first platform, and an end effector disposed on the second platform and movable in a second linear direction by a second drive assembly, the second linear direction being orthogonal to the first linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kurita, Takayuki Matsumoto, Suhail Anwar
  • Patent number: 8240971
    Abstract: A handling manipulator assembly comprises a vertical extending main support (2) arranged on a rotary plate (3). Arranged on the main support (2) is a vertically travelling vertical carriage (9) to which a horizontal extension arm (12) is secured. Mounted on the horizontal extension arm (12) is an articulated arm (14) provided at the end with a manipulator gripper (18). Such a handling manipulator assembly (1) is suitable to advantage to feed/remove tools or workpieces to/from a machine tool provided with a front portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Erowa AG
    Inventor: Bruno Sandmeier
  • Patent number: 8095237
    Abstract: A method of three-dimensional object location and guidance to allow robotic manipulation of an object with variable position and orientation using a sensor array which is a collection of one or more sensors capable of forming a single image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: RoboticVISIONTech LLC
    Inventors: Babak Habibi, Simona Pescaru, Mohammad Sameti, Remus Florinel Boca
  • Patent number: 8024071
    Abstract: Based upon a force in a vertical direction exerted between an object and a hand and an angle made by the hand relative to a horizontal face, a transporting force estimation unit estimates a transporting force applied in the vertical direction by a person, and based upon the estimated force, a force controlling operation is carried out so as to set a force in the vertical direction of the robot arm of a robot system to a predetermined force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mayumi Komatsu, Yasunao Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20110196533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for collision-free path planning for an industrial robot (1) which has a control device (9) and a robot arm (2) that is movable with the aid of the control device (9), to which an object (11) is attached, and in whose working space at least one obstacle (12) is situated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Scheurer, Uwe Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7988912
    Abstract: A microtiter plate transport device is configured to grip a microtiter plate in a first location. The microtiter plate transport device is configured to make a vertical approach to the microtiter plate and grip the microtiter plate in either a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation along either the opposing longer sides or the opposing shorter sides of the microtiter plate. The device comprises a Cartesian coordinate robot including a first gripping member and a second gripping member opposed to the first gripping member. The first gripping member and the second gripping member are supported by an arm configured to move along a vertical axis which extends between the first gripping member and the second gripping member. The first gripping member and the second gripping member are configured to rotate about the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel H. Rizzotte, Paul N. Avgerinos, Donald A. Turner
  • Publication number: 20110182702
    Abstract: A robot that includes an end effector for holding a substrate in a substantially horizontal state; a vertical driving unit for driving the end effector to move in a vertical direction; a horizontal driving unit for driving the vertical driving unit to move in a horizontal direction; and a rotation driving unit for rotating the horizontal driving unit about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. In this case, one end of the end effector is connected with the vertical driving unit. One end of the vertical driving unit is connected with the horizontal driving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7736118
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a stationary base, a swivel supported by the stationary base to be rotatable about a vertical axis, a guide member mounted on the swivel, a linear movement mechanism supported by the swivel or the guide member, a hand supported by the linear movement mechanism and moved by the linear movement mechanism for carrying a work along a straight and horizontal travel stroke, a drive source disposed inside the stationary base, and a transmission shaft disposed along the vertical axis to transmit drive power from the drive source to the linear movement mechanism. The swivel includes an upper section and a lower section detachably connected with each other. The upper section has a connecting member supported by the upper section to be rotatable about the vertical axis. The connecting member has a detachable engagement member for engagement with the transmission shaft from the above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: DAIHEN Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Uratani, Daisuke Sado, Hideki Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20100126293
    Abstract: A robotic tool positioning system for positioning a first tool and a second tool. The system includes an inner shaft, a first tool arm and a first drive assembly. The first tool arm is connected to the lower portion of the inner shaft at the lower end thereof and extends radially outward therefrom, and has a first tool supporting surface disposed at a tool elevation for supporting the first tool thereon. The system further includes a tubular outer shaft, a second tool arm and a second drive assembly. A lower portion of the inner shaft extends through the tubular outer shaft. The second tool arm is connected to the tubular outer shaft at the lower end thereof, and has a second tool supporting surface disposed at the tool elevation for supporting the second tool thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: COMAU INC.
    Inventors: John Graham, Theodore Robert Brown, Aaron Alberts