Clinton N Smith

US Patent:

20220331840, Oct 20, 2022

Filed:

Apr 16, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/232912

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Nicholas L. Choi - South San Francisco CA, US
Christopher Lalau Keraly - San Francisco CA, US
Matthew E. Shaffer - Menlo Park CA, US
Laura Stelzner - Redwood City CA, US
Leo Keselman - Santa Clara CA, US
Anthony Canalungo - San Carlos CA, US
Clinton J. Smith - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

RIOS Intelligent Machines, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B07C 5/342
G06K 9/00
G06K 9/62
G06T 7/20
G06T 1/00
B07C 5/02
B07C 5/36

Abstract:

A work cell and method for automatically separating objects disposed in 3D clusters includes dispensing the objects onto a horizontal conveying surface to form a 2D array, reforming the 2D array into a 1D stream in which the objects move in single-file in a predefined moving direction, utilizing a vision-based or other stationary sensing system to identify a selected target object in the 1D stream as the target object passes through an image capture (sensing) region, calculating trajectory data defining the target object's time-based position in the 1D stream, and then utilizing the trajectory data to control a robot arm or other object removal mechanism such that only the selected object is forcibly removed (e.g., swiped or picked-up) from the horizontal conveying surface. A continuous-loop-type conveying mechanism includes two parallel conveyor-belt-type conveying structures and associated belt-switching structures. An AI-powered vision system identifies new object shapes during preliminary learning phases.

US Patent:

20220178859, Jun 9, 2022

Filed:

Feb 22, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/677716

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Clinton Smith - San Francisco CA, US
David Eric Schwartz - San Carlos CA, US
Yong Zhang - Millbrae CA, US
Vedasri Vedharathinam - Sunnyvale CA, US

International Classification:

G01N 27/04
B01J 20/20
B01J 20/02
B01J 20/32
G01N 33/00
G01N 27/12

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes. The methods include forming a reaction mixture by combining a first solution with a second solution, wherein the first solution comprises polymer-coated metal nanoparticles comprising metallic nanoparticles coated with a polymer, and wherein the second solution comprises carbon nanotubes. The methods also include heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the polymer for a time sufficient to cause the polymer-coated metal nanoparticles to bind to the carbon nanotubes forming the metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes.

US Patent:

20210041382, Feb 11, 2021

Filed:

Oct 19, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/073798

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Clinton Smith - San Francisco CA, US
Eric Cocker - Redwood City CA, US
David Schwartz - Concord MA, US

International Classification:

G01N 25/48
G01N 33/00

Abstract:

A gas monitor apparatus includes a sorbent material that adsorbs a target gas based on a concentration of the target gas in a monitored environment and a reference material that does not respond to the target gas. The gas monitor also includes a first thermistor disposed within the sorbent material and a second thermistor disposed within the reference material, the first thermistor to provide a first indication of a first temperature of the sorbent material and the second thermistor to provide a second indication of a second temperature of the reference material. A processing device determines a concentration of the target gas based at least in part on a differential measurement between the first temperature and the second temperature.

US Patent:

20200378914, Dec 3, 2020

Filed:

Aug 18, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/996239

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Clinton Smith - San Francisco CA, US
David Eric Schwartz - San Carlos CA, US
Yong Zhang - Millbrae CA, US
Vedasri Vedharathinam - Sunnyvale CA, US

International Classification:

G01N 27/04
B01J 20/20
B01J 20/02
B01J 20/32
G01N 33/00
G01N 27/12

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are embodiments of compositions for gas sensing and sensors utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a composition comprises carbon nanotubes and polymer-coated metal nanoparticles bound to the carbon nanotubes.

US Patent:

20200306979, Oct 1, 2020

Filed:

Mar 27, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/832755

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Clinton J. Smith - San Francisco CA, US
Christopher Lalau Keraly - San Francisco CA, US
Matthew E. Shaffer - Menlo Park CA, US
Bernard D. Casse - Saratoga CA, US

Assignee:

Robotik Innovations, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B25J 9/16
G01L 1/16
G01L 1/18
G01L 1/22
G01L 1/14
G01H 11/08
G01K 7/16
G01D 5/24

Abstract:

A flex-rigid sensor apparatus for providing sensor data from sensors disposed on an end-effector/gripper to the control circuit of an arm-type robotic system. The apparatus includes piezo-type pressure sensors sandwiched between lower and upper PCB stack-up structures respectively fabricated using rigid PCB (e.g., FR-4) and flexible PCB (e.g., polyimide) manufacturing processes. Additional (e.g., temperature and proximity) sensors are mounted on the upper/flexible stack-up structure. A spacer structure is disposed between the two stack-up structures and includes an insulating material layer defining openings that accommodate the pressure sensors. Copper film layers are configured to provide Faraday cages around each pressure sensor. The pressure sensors, additional sensors and Faraday cages are connected to sensor data processing and control circuitry (e.g., analog-to-digital converter circuits) by way of signal traces formed in the lower and upper stack-up structures and in the spacer structure. An encapsulation layer is formed on the upper PCB stack-up structure.

US Patent:

20200306986, Oct 1, 2020

Filed:

Mar 27, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/832690

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Clinton J. Smith - San Francisco CA, US
Christopher A. Paulson - Redwood City CA, US
Bernard D. Casse - Saratoga CA, US
Matthew E. Shaffer - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Robotik Innovations, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B25J 13/08
B25J 19/02
B25J 9/16
B25J 15/02
B25J 13/02
H01R 12/71
G06F 13/42
H05K 1/18

Abstract:

A human-like tactile perception apparatus for providing enhanced tactile information (feedback data) from an end-effector/gripper to the control circuit of an arm-type robotic system. The apparatus's base structure is attached to the gripper's finger and includes a flat/planar support plate that presses a pressure sensor array against a target object during operable interactions. The pressure sensor array generates pressure sensor data that indicates portions of the array contacted by surface features of the target object. A sensor data processing circuit generates tactile information in response to the pressure sensor data, and then transmits the tactile information to the robotic system's control circuit. An optional mezzanine connector extends through an opening in the support plate to pass pressure sensor data to the processing circuit. An encapsulating layer covers the pressure sensor array and transmits pressure waves generated by slipping objects to enhance the tactile information.

US Patent:

20200306988, Oct 1, 2020

Filed:

Mar 27, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/832840

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Christopher Lalau Keraly - San Francisco CA, US
Clinton J. Smith - San Francisco CA, US
Christopher A. Paulson - Redwood City CA, US
Bernard D. Casse - Saratoga CA, US

Assignee:

Robotik Innovations, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B25J 13/08
B25J 9/16
G06N 20/00

Abstract:

A robotic network includes multiple work cells that communicate with a cloud server using a network bus (e.g., the Internet). Each work cell includes an interface computer and a robotic system including a robot mechanism and a control circuit. Each robot mechanism includes an end effector/gripper having integral multimodal sensor arrays that measure physical parameter values (sensor data) during interactions between the end effector/gripper and target objects. The cloud server collects and correlates sensor data from all of the work cells to facilitate efficient diagnosis of problematic robotic operations (e.g., accidents/failures), and then automatically updates each work cell with improved operating system versions or AI models (e.g., including indicator parameter value sets and associated secondary robot control signals that may be used by each robot system to detect potential imminent robot accidents/failures during subsequent robot operations.

US Patent:

20200094412, Mar 26, 2020

Filed:

Sep 17, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/573811

Inventors:

- Palo Alto CA, US
Clinton J. Smith - San Francisco CA, US
Christopher Lalau Keraly - San Francisco CA, US
Matthew E. Shaffer - Menlo Park CA, US
Christopher A. Paulson - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Robotik Innovations Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B25J 9/16
B25J 9/04

Abstract:

A multimodal sensing architecture utilizes an array of single sensor or multi-sensor groups (superpixels) to facilitate advanced object-manipulation and recognition tasks performed by mechanical end effectors in robotic systems. The single-sensors/superpixels are spatially arrayed over contact surfaces of the end effector fingers and include, e.g., pressure sensors and vibration sensors that facilitate the simultaneous detection of both static and dynamic events occurring on the end effector, and optionally include proximity sensors and/or temperature sensors. A readout circuit receives the sensor data from the superpixels and transmits the sensor data onto a shared sensor data bus. An optional multimodal control generator receives and processes the sensor data and generates multimodal control signals that cause the robot system's control circuit to adjust control operations performed by the end effector or other portions of the robot mechanism and when the sensor data indicates non-standard operating conditions.