James P Case

US Patent:

20110166707, Jul 7, 2011

Filed:

Jan 5, 2011

Appl. No.:

12/985194

Inventors:

Nikolai Romanov - Oak Park CA, US
James Philip Case - Los Angeles CA, US
Michael Dooley - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

EVOLUTION ROBOTICS, INC. - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

B25J 13/08

US Classification:

700255

Abstract:

A localization and obstacle detection system comprising a first signal projector configured to project a first signal into an environment and a robot configured to move in the environment. The robot comprises a second signal projector configured to project a second signal into the environment; a signal receiver configured to receive the first signal and the second signal; a localizer configured to determine a location of the robot in the environment based at least in part on the received first signal; and a detector configured to determine the presence of an obstacle in the environment based at least in part on the intensity and bearing of the received second signal and without touching the obstacle; wherein the second signal is distinct from the first signal in at least one characteristic.

US Patent:

20110167574, Jul 14, 2011

Filed:

Nov 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/940871

Inventors:

MICHAEL S. STOUT - Rancho Palos Verdes CA, US
Gabriel Francis Brisson - Red Oak CA, US
Enrico Di Bernardo - Glendora CA, US
Paolo Pirjanian - Glendale CA, US
Dhiraj Goel - Pasadena CA, US
James Philip Case - Los Angeles CA, US
Michael Dooley - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

EVOLUTION ROBOTICS, INC. - PASADENA CA

International Classification:

B08B 7/00
G05D 1/00
G05D 3/12

US Classification:

15 3, 701 25, 701 26

Abstract:

A robot configured to navigate a surface, the robot comprising a movement mechanism; a logical map representing data about the surface and associating locations with one or more properties observed during navigation; an initialization module configured to establish an initial pose comprising an initial location and an initial orientation; a region covering module configured to cause the robot to move so as to cover a region; an edge-following module configured to cause the robot to follow unfollowed edges; a control module configured to invoke region covering on a first region defined at least in part based at least part of the initial pose, to invoke region covering on least one additional region, to invoke edge-following, and to invoke region covering cause the mapping module to mark followed edges as followed, and cause a third region covering on regions discovered during edge-following.

US Patent:

20110202175, Aug 18, 2011

Filed:

Dec 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/930260

Inventors:

Nikolai Romanov - Oak Park CA, US
Collin Eugene Johnson - Ann Arbor MI, US
James Philip Case - Los Angeles CA, US
Dhiraj Goel - Pasadena CA, US
Steffen Gutmann - Pasadena CA, US
Michael Dooley - Pasadena CA, US

International Classification:

B25J 5/00
B25J 13/08

US Classification:

700250, 700245, 700258, 901 1, 901 46

Abstract:

A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.

US Patent:

20220214172, Jul 7, 2022

Filed:

Mar 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/703096

Inventors:

- Oak Park CA, US
Nikolai Romanov - Oak Park CA, US
James Philip Case - San Francisco CA, US

International Classification:

G01C 21/20
H04N 5/235
H04N 13/254
H04N 13/239
H04N 5/247

Abstract:

A visual positioning system for mobile devices includes at least one infrared camera, at least one infrared illumination source, and a processor that coordinates operation of the at least one camera and illumination sources. A flood IR infrared illumination source illuminates environmental objects for localization of the mobile device during a first camera exposure window, and a structured IR illumination source illuminate environmental objects for detection and mapping of obstacles during a second camera exposure window. A visual SLAM map is constructed with images obtained from a first camera, with a single map being useable for positioning and navigation across a variety of environmental lighting conditions. A method for training a robot includes receiving operator input signals configured to start and stop recording of defined routes during the guiding of the mobile robot along paths between different pairs of desired robot destinations, such that routes for subsequent use by the robot are generated for paths imaged while recording is active.

US Patent:

20210378476, Dec 9, 2021

Filed:

Aug 24, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/410901

Inventors:

- Bedford MA, US
Nikolai Romanov - Oak Park CA, US
James Philip Case - Los Angeles CA, US

International Classification:

A47L 11/284
A47L 11/40
A47L 11/12
A47L 11/34

Abstract:

A mobile floor cleaning robot includes a body defining a forward drive direction, a drive system, a cleaning system, and a controller. The cleaning system includes a pad holder, a reservoir, a sprayer, and a cleaning system. The pad holder has a bottom surface for receiving a cleaning pad. The reservoir holds a volume of fluid, and the sprayer sprays the fluid forward the pad holder. The controller is in communication with the drive and cleaning systems. The controller executes a cleaning routine that includes driving in the forward direction a first distance to a first location, then driving in a reverse drive direction a second distance to a second location. From the second location, the robot sprays fluid in the forward drive direction but rearward the first location. The robot then drives in alternating forward and reverse drive directions while smearing the cleaning pad along the floor surface.

US Patent:

20210164785, Jun 3, 2021

Filed:

Jul 15, 2019

Appl. No.:

17/257472

Inventors:

- Oak Park CA, US
Nikolai Romanov - Oak Park CA, US
James Philip Case - San Francisco CA, US

International Classification:

G01C 21/20
H04N 5/247
H04N 13/239
H04N 13/254
H04N 5/235

Abstract:

A visual positioning system for mobile devices includes at least one infrared camera, at least one infrared illumination source, and a processor that coordinates operation of the at least one camera and illumination sources. A flood IR infrared illumination source illuminates environmental objects for localization of the mobile device during a first camera exposure window, and a structured IR illumination source illuminate environmental objects for detection and mapping of obstacles during a second camera exposure window. A visual SLAM map is constructed with images obtained from a first camera, with a single map being useable for positioning and navigation across a variety of environmental lighting conditions. A method for training a robot includes receiving operator input signals configured to start and stop recording of defined routes during the guiding of the mobile robot along paths between different pairs of desired robot destinations, such that routes for subsequent use by the robot are generated for paths imaged while recording is active.

US Patent:

20210053207, Feb 25, 2021

Filed:

Sep 3, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/011689

Inventors:

- Bedford MA, US
Collin Eugene Johnson - Bedford MA, US
James Philip Case - Los Angeles CA, US
Dhiraj Goel - Bedford MA, US
Steffen Gutmann - Bedford MA, US
Michael J. Dooley - Los Gatos CA, US

International Classification:

B25J 5/00
A47L 11/40
G05D 1/02
B25J 13/08

Abstract:

A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.

US Patent:

20190231163, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Apr 12, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/382864

Inventors:

- Bedford MA, US
James Philip Case - Los Angeles CA, US
Nikolai Romanov - Oak Park CA, US

International Classification:

A47L 11/40
G05D 1/02
B25J 11/00
A47L 11/30

Abstract:

A mobile robot configured to travel across a residential floor or other surface while cleaning the surface with a cleaning pad and cleaning solvent is disclosed. The robot includes a controller for managing the movement of the robot as well as the treatment of the surface with a cleaning solvent. The movement of the robot can be characterized by a class of trajectories that achieve effective cleaning. The trajectories include sequences of steps that are repeated, the sequences including forward and backward motion and optional left and right motion along arcuate paths.