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"Transmission of documents via telephone wires is possible in principle, but the apparatus required is so expensive that it will never become a practical proposition."
Dennis Gabor, British physicist
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7324872 | Robot apparatus An external force estimation system for estimating an external force acting upon a robot apparatus which includes a machine body which in turn includes a plurality of movable joints is disclosed which includes a distribution type contacting state detection section, ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7254464 | System and methods for adaptive control of robotic devices Methods for operating robotic devices (i.e., “robots”) that employ adaptive behavior relative to neighboring robots and external (e.g., environmental) conditions. Each robot is capable of receiving, processing, and acting on one or more multi-device primitive co... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7117067 | System and methods for adaptive control of robotic devices Methods for operating robotic devices (i.e., “robots”) that employ adaptive behavior relative to neighboring robots and external (e.g., environmental) conditions. Each robot is capable of receiving, processing, and acting on one or more multi-device primitive co... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7103447 | Robot apparatus, and behavior controlling method for robot apparatus A robot (1) is provided which includes a situated behaviors layer (SBL) (58). This SBL (58) is formed in the form of a tree structure in which a plurality of schemata (behavior modules) is connected hierarchically in such a matter that the schem... | 09/05/2006 |
| 6711469 | Robot system, robot apparatus and cover for robot apparatus An authenticating pattern is disposed on a cover and an authenticating device is disposed in a robot apparatus for authenticating the cover on the basis of the authenticating pattern of the fitted cover. An information holding device for holding inherent information... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6662088 | Methods and systems for inspecting aircraft fuselage frames A method for inspecting an aircraft fuselage using an inspection system including a movable detector, wherein the method includes coupling a collision avoidance system to the inspection system detector, monitoring the collision avoidance system during ope... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6528963 | Robot and method for controlling motor speed of the robot Disclosed is a method of controlling a robot including a motor having a rotation shaft, an arm part having one end connected to the rotation shaft and interlocking with a rotation of the motor, a position controller controlling the motor, and a main contr... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6304050 | Means and method of robot control relative to an arbitrary surface using camera-space manipulation A system is presented that creates vision-based, three-dimensional control of a multiple-degree-of-freedom dexterous robot, without special calibration of the vision system, the robot, or any of the constituent parts of the system, and that allows high-le... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6276864 | Assembly for connecting a measuring tool to a measuring head moved by a measuring robot An assembly for connecting a measuring tool to a measuring head moved by a measuring robot and having an output member rotating at least about one axis; the assembly having three supports located peripherally with respect to the axis and defining an isost... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6077031 | Method for removing and transporting articles from molds This invention relates to a method for removing and transporting articles, such as ophthalmic lens mold sections, or packaging elements from a mold. The invention, in one embodiment includes first, second, and third assemblies; the first of which removes ... | 06/20/2000 |
| 5994862 | Automatic wiring connection apparatus In an automatic wiring connection apparatus, position detection marks 221; 231 are disposed on matrix boards 220; 230, respectively, as shown in FIG. 8. Position data of a desired crosspoint hole included in anyone of areas 227-- 1, . . . , 227... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5726581 | 3-D capaciflector A capacitive type proximity sensor having improved range and sensitivity between a surface of arbitrary shape and an intruding object in the vicinity of the surface having one or more outer conductors on the surface which serve as capacitive sensing eleme... | 03/10/1998 |
| 5562843 | Industrial robot with contact sensor A contact sensor for a robot includes a plurality of electrically conductive shafts extending outward from a moving portion of the robot. Electrically conductive flexible feelers are disposed on the shafts. In one embodiment the feelers are disposed in fa... | 10/08/1996 |
| 5548194 | Control method and control device for a deburring robot When a deburring tool encounters a large burr near point P'.sub.1 in the process in which the tip of the tool moves from point P.sub.1 to point P.sub.2 on a workpiece, the cutting resistance increases suddenly until it exceeds the present threshold Xth, t... | 08/20/1996 |
| 5541588 | Control signal transfer device for a position detecting sensor A control signal transmitting device is used for a control device, such as a position detecting device. The transmitting device includes a position detecting sensor, and a receiving device situated near the position detecting sensor. The position detectin... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5455894 | Wafer fabrication robotic interface unit An improved wafer transfer and monitoring system is described which utilizes a robotic interface unit. The robotic interface unit includes at least one wafer storage location placed proximate to a wafer stepper unit. A robotic arm attached to the interfac... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5389849 | Tactility providing apparatus and manipulating device using the same A detecting portion outputs a contact state signal in accordance with a contact state with respect to an object to be manipulated. The contact state signal represents at least one of information of a sense of sliding of the detection portion with respect ... | 02/14/1995 |
| 5214858 | Teach and repeat probe for a robot arm A probe used for programming a robot arm in order to perform a cutting operation on a work-piece. During the programming operation, the probe is attached to the robot arm and moved around the profile of a test-piece. An electric lamp is provided for indic... | 06/01/1993 |
| 4926345 | Robotic component lead trimmer A robotic lead trimmer employing a sensor probe guided over a printed wiring board by a robot to determine the contour of a printed wiring board and a lead trimming element guided by the robot to automatically follow the determined contour of the board du... | 05/15/1990 |
| 4885833 | Apparatus and method for mounting window glasses on automobile A robot having a robot arm swingable from a position outside a car body conveying line to the line and movable in the directions of length, width and height of the car body is provided with a support frame carrying a jig for holding the window glass. The ... | 12/12/1989 |
| 4864294 | Position detector with radio transmitter and receiver In a position detector for detecting the position of an object to be detected by making a detecting needle contact with the object to be detected and for transmitting a detecting signal by radio wave, the detecting needle itself functions as a transmissio... | 09/05/1989 |
| 4826392 | Method and apparatus for hybrid position/force control of multi-arm cooperating robots Two or more robotic arms having end effectors rigidly attached to an object to be moved are disclosed. A hybrid position/force control system is provided for driving each of the robotic arms. The object to be moved is represented as having a total mass th... | 05/02/1989 |
| 4809885 | Highly viscous material coating apparatus A highly-viscous material coating apparatus for use, e.g. in an automobile coating process, to coat a joint of a workpiece, may be mounted on a robot. It provides improved operation where the workpiece provides a reference surface parallel to the joint, w... | 03/07/1989 |
| 4807152 | Metrological apparatus Metrological apparatus, particularly for measuring form, has a turntable 4 and a transducer 14 and associated stylus 12 mounted so that the tip 12a of the stylus is displaceable radially and vertically relative to the turntable 4. The problem of obtaining... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4792715 | Robot gripper control system using PVDF piezoelectric sensors A robot gripper control system is disclosed which uses PVDF piezoelectric sensors to actively damp exerted force. Instead of charge amplifying the output of the piezoelectric transducer, the output voltage is measured as the charge drains across a path of... | 12/20/1988 |
| 4670641 | Machine robot, particularly for welding A welding robot having a robot arm which is servo-controlled in a multiplicity of degrees of freedom. At least one servo-system for one of the degrees of freedom is capable of disengaging a part of its feedback network, this part being an integrating circ... | 06/02/1987 |
| 4645902 | Automatic circumferential welding apparatus An automatic welding apparatus for performing welding along the circumference of abutted pipe ends, wherein the apparatus can be taught and operate in accordance with data related to reference positions and welding paths along semicircumferences of the ab... | 02/24/1987 |
| 4541062 | Method of interlockingly controlling a robot and positioner A method of interlockingly controlling a robot and a positioner which includes operating manually or automatically a teaching roller along a weld line of a workpiece fixed to a rotatable positioner, teaching the position of the weld line, storing the posi... | 09/10/1985 |
| 4531192 | Apparatus and method for sensing a workpiece with an electrical arc Apparatus and method for sensing the topography of a workpiece with an electrical arc by measuring a parameter of the electrical arc signal as an electrode is scanned across the surface of the workpiece by a tool manipulator such as a multi-axis robot arm... | 07/23/1985 |
| 4401945 | Apparatus for detecting the position of a probe relative to a workpiece Apparatus for detecting the position of a probe relative to a workpiece, for example probe contact with the workpiece, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a transducer for converting probe contact to an electrical signal and a plurality of light emitting... | 08/30/1983 |
| 4397188 | Piezoelectric resonant contact sensor A piezoelectric resonant contact sensor includes an enclosure representing a hollow body of revolution and housing a piezoelectric vibration exciter disposed in a manner providing an acoustic contact. The shape of the exciter is selected to suit the shape... | 08/09/1983 |
| 4288020 | Tracking type welding apparatus A tracking type welding apparatus wherein a torch follows a probe along a weld seam and the probe senses lateral seam deviations and stores them in a pin cam and wherein the deviations are later used to move the torch in the same manner. The pin cam is re... | 09/08/1981 |
| 4283617 | Automatic pipe welding system Apparatus and method for rapid and automatic welding of joints which interconnect sections of pipe, and in particular oil or gas transmission pipe. The system includes at least one torch transport assembly which simultaneously moves one or more welding to... | 08/11/1981 |
| 4260870 | Automatic welding apparatus for upward welding of curved joint Disclosed is an automatic welding apparatus for upward welding of curved joints having a plurality of welding nozzles mounted on an arm for independent or separate movement in directions tangent and normal to the welding line, the arm being carried by a c... | 04/07/1981 |
| 4258425 | Self-programmed mechanical working apparatus This invention relates to controlled apparatus having a tool including a plurality of directions of movements with the directions interrelated, such as an arc welding unit having an electrode for contouring of similar work parts along a seam contour. The ... | 03/24/1981 |
| 4255643 | Programmed welding machine with continuously monitored override control A welding machine includes a programming device to move a welding head relative to horizontal main X and Y axes, and to rotate the head about a vertical C axis. A sensor is connected to rotate with the welding head on a rotator. A sine cosine resolver is ... | 03/10/1981 |
| 4234777 | Programmed welding machine with weld head speed override A welding machine includes a programming device to move a welding head relative to horizontal main X and Y axes, and to rotate the head about a vertical C axis. A sensor is connected to rotate with the welding head on a rotator. A sine cosine resolver is ... | 11/18/1980 |
| 4215299 | Adaptive path following motion control system for welding head assembly A position control system for a welder includes a probe pivotably supported on the welding head assembly for motion through an arc extending ahead of the path of motion of the welding head. A sensor supported on the probe connects to a control system whic... | 07/29/1980 |
| 4166941 | Guidance system for arc welder A guidance system for an automatic welder. A probe having a casing with a concentric actuating rod supported in the casing by means of a pivot plate which is movably mounted on a fixed plate. A probe finger is attached to the lower end of the actuating ro... | 09/04/1979 |
| 4158161 | Apparatus for guiding a welder or the like along a predetermined path Sensing apparatus is disclosed which is particularly useful for guiding a welding torch along a seam or joint to be welded. The sensing apparatus comprises a sensor assembly for sensing variations in the welding path, a first drive mechanism for moving th... | 06/12/1979 |
