The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2004
Charles E. Taylor, Punta Gorda, FL (US);
Andrew J. Parker, Novato, CA (US);
Shek Fai Lau, Foster City, CA (US);
Eric C. Blair, San Rafael, CA (US);
Andrew Heninger, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Eric NG, San Leandro, CA (US);
Patricia I. Brenner, Encino, CA (US);
Charles E. Taylor, Punta Gorda, FL (US);
Andrew J. Parker, Novato, CA (US);
Shek Fai Lau, Foster City, CA (US);
Eric C. Blair, San Rafael, CA (US);
Andrew Heninger, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Eric Ng, San Leandro, CA (US);
Patricia I. Brenner, Encino, CA (US);
Sharper Image Acquisition LLC, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A robot uses an infrared sensor including an infrared light source which produces pulses of infrared light. Optics focus reflections of the infrared light pulses from different portions of the environment of the robot to different detectors in aD array of detectors. The detectors produce an indication of the distance to the closest object in an associated portion of the environment. The robot can use the indications to determine features in the environment. The robot can be controlled to avoid these features.