Xerox Corporation

Immersion Corporation

Virtual Technologies, Inc.

Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

Mark H Yim

David Kalman Biegelsen

Andrew A Berlin

Warren Bruce Jackson

David G Duff

Patrick C Cheung

Kimon D Roufas

Mark R Tremblay

Marc R Tremblay

James F Kramer

John W Suh

Samuel B Homans

John Ogden Lamping

Eric Saund

Craig Eldershaw

Lars-Erik Swartz

James G Chase

Daniel H Gomez

Eric W Mao

Kenneth N Horne

Ying Di Zhang

Daniel Lynn Larner

Thomas P Moran

Kenneth P Fishkin

Markus P J Fromherz

Patrick C P Cheung

Jaime S Vargas

Rachel King-Ha Lau

Kyle L Petrich

Joe Wagner

A system includes a host computer configured to generate a graphical interface that includes a graphical object, obtain at least one spoken utterance, control an interaction of the graphical object within the graphical interface based on the spoken utterance, and generate an activating signal based on the spoken utterance. An interface device is configured to receive the spoken utterance, provide the spoken utterance to the host computer, and control the graphical object within the graphical interface based on the provided spoken utterance. The graphical object includes a graphical representation within the graphical interface. An actuator is disposed within a housing of the interface device, thereby protecting the actuator from contact by the user, and is configured to receive the activating signal from the host computer. The activating signal causes the actuator to impart a force via the housing.

Tactile feedback interface device

A man-machine interface which provides tactile feedback to various sensing body parts is disclosed. The device employs one or more vibrotactile units, where each unit comprises a mass and a mass-moving actuator. As the mass is accelerated by the mass-moving actuator, the entire vibrotactile unit vibrates. Thus, the vibrotactile unit transmits a vibratory stimulus to the sensing body part to which it is affixed. The vibrotactile unit may be used in conjunction with a spatial placement sensing device which measures the spatial placement of a measured body part. A computing device uses the spatial placement of the measured body part to determine the desired vibratory stimulus to be provided by the vibrotactile unit. In this manner, the computing device may control the level of vibratory feedback perceived by the corresponding sensing body part in response to the motion of the measured body part. The sensing body part and the measured body part may be separate or the same body part.

Tactile feedback man-machine interface device

A robotic device may include a plurality of concatenated assemblies, a tendon slidably connected to the plurality of concatenated assemblies, and an actuator that moves the tendon. Each assembly of the concatenated plurality may include a joining member that neighbors an adjacent assembly, a linkage that may fixedly connect to the joining member and may pivotably connect to the adjacent assembly, and an appendage that may extend from the joining member to a length. The appendage may include a connector through which the tendon may be connected to slide through. The connector may be adjustably disposable along the length of the appendage to a specified position thereon. The appendage may extend in a direction at a specified angle relative to the linkage.

Articulated robotic serial mechanism and method

A flexible media transport system includes a director element having articulating tips that provide access to selected media paths. The director element(s) can be incorporated into a director module. Multiple director modules can then be combined into a highly flexible and reconfigurable media transport system. By implementing the joints between the articulating tips and the body of the director element such that a continuous surface is provided in the path of the flexible media, stubbing of the moving media can be avoided. The continuous-surface joint interface can be provided via flexible skins, monolithic articulating tip-director element structures, and preconfigured resilient plate structures, among others.

Flexible director paper path module

A media transport array for forming sequential media streams feeding a media processing system in which serial flows, parallel flows, or both are desired are structured from standard, batch fabricatable media path modules. Each media path module includes a frame unit, intermodule latching means, media control electronics, and media state sensing electronics. Within each media path module, at least one media transport nip receives media and passes it to an independently actuated media director. Media guides support media as it moves into and out of the media director.

Media path modules

A transport apparatus for transporting materials or objects on substantially vertical structures for installation, deployment, inspection and repair purposes includes gripping mechanisms having a conformable gripping portion. The gripping mechanisms are separated by links, which are mutually attached to each other to permit angular rotation of the links relative to each other about a pivot point. A latching mechanism provides the capability for the gripping portion to be opened as well as secured for operation.

Transport apparatus and method having conformable gripping capability

An alignment system includes a first module having a plurality of emitters and a first receiver configuration located on the face of the first module. A second module has a second plurality of emitters and a second receiver configuration located on the face of the second module. First and second trigger signal generators fire the first and second plurality of the emitters. The generated signals are sensed by at least some of the receivers. A converter arrangement obtain and convert the received signals into digital data representative of the readings received by selected receivers. A processing system computes at least one of an absolute six degree offset or a relative six degree offset between the faces. The offset information is then used to achieve a desired alignment between the face of the first module and the face of the second module.

Six degree of freedom position ranging

A robotic module for a toy construction system includes a housing enclosing a gear mechanism and an actuator connected to a pivot mechanism to supply operational power for rotation. An energy storage device supplies power to the actuator, which rotates in response to instructions received from a control unit connected to the actuator. A connection plate forms a connection between at least two of the modules. At least one position sensor is provided to sense the arrangement of the modules connected together.

Robotic toy modular system

A controllable ratcheting apparatus having robotic modules rigidly attached for operation near a mechanical singularity includes a plurality of modular joints and ratcheting means. Each one of the modular joints is capable of locking and unlocking to effect performance of a ratcheting motion as the ratcheting apparatus approaches a mechanical singularity. A plurality of links is connected to the modular joints in such a way as to permit movement of the links while under large external forces as the joint approaches a point of mechanical singularity. A control system directs movement of the modular joints and links.

High mechanical advantage ratcheting apparatus

An assemblage of robotic modules for a toy construction system includes a plurality of robotic modules, each of which contains memory capability, an actuator, communication means, and a central processor unit. The assemblage also includes a distributed control unit, which is defined at least in part by a plurality of individual central processing units, with each individual robotic module having at least one central processing unit.

Robotic toy modular system with distributed program

An assemblage of robotic modules includes a plurality of robotic modules, with each robotic module having memory capability, an actuator, a joint position sensor, and communication means. The assemblage of robotic modules also includes a distributed control unit, which is defined at least in part by a plurality of individual central processing units, with each robotic joint module having at least one central processing unit.

Robotic toy with posable joints

A tracking device includes a motor, top and bottom propellers of opposite sense attached to the stator and rotor of the motor for rotation in opposite directions. Target sensors are provided on the propellers and signals from the target sensors are supplied to a controller that controls the rotation of the motor and the propellers. The tracking device also includes a power supply for the motor and the controller.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Mark H Yim