Patent US6526332B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6526332B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Robot control system and method for introducing robot control software
Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 2002-06-10
•
Granted: 2003-02-25
•
Expires: 2022-06-10
Abstract
Abstract An articulated robot is controlled by dynamically modifying a combination of a hardware dependent middleware layer and a hardware independent application layer. A memory device for storing a plurality of sets of robot hardware dependent software programs and a memory device for storing a plurality of sets of robot hardware independent software programs are prepared. During execution of software programs, a software program compatible with a robot hardware configuration is introduced from the former memory device, and this software program is dynamically combined with the set of hardware independent software programs. The robot is thus appropriately controlled, meeting the needs of users.
Inventors
- 👤 Takayuki Sakamoto
- 👤 Kazufumi Oyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:34
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J13/00; G; G06; G06N; G06N3/00; G06N3/004; G06N3/008; B25J9/00; B25J9/16; B25J9/1602; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/40; G05B2219/40304
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A robot control system which controls a robot including a combination of a plurality of hardware elements using a hardware dependent software program and a hardware independent software program, the robot control system comprising: hardware independent software program providing means for providing the hardware independent software program, hardware dependent software program providing means for providing at least one hardware dependent software program, hardware configuration information acquisition means for acquiring hardware configuration information of the robot, hardware dependent software program selection means for selecting a hardware dependent software program, compatible with the hardware configuration information acquired by the hardware configuration information acquisition means, in the hardware dependent software providing means, and software introduction means for introducing, into the system, the hardware independent software program provided by the hardware independent software program providing means, and the hardware dependent software program selected by the hardware dependent software selection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A robot control system which controls a robot including a combination of a plurality of hardware elements using a hardware dependent software program and a hardware independent software program, the robot control system comprising: hardware independent software program providing means for providing the hardware independent software program, hardware dependent software program providing means for providing at least one hardware dependent software program, hardware configuration information acquisition means for acquiring hardware configuration information of the robot, hardware dependent software program selection means for selecting a hardware dependent software program, compatible with the hardware configuration information acquired by the hardware configuration information acquisition means, in the hardware dependent software providing means, and software introduction means for introducing, into the system, the hardware independent software program provided by the hardware independent software program providing means, and the hardware dependent software program selected by the hardware dependent software selection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A robot control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory device which is permanently fixed to the body of the robot, wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by the fixed memory device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A robot control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory device which is replaceably mounted to the body of the robot, wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by the exchangeable memory device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
A robot control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory device which is permanently fixed to the body of the robot, and a memory device which is replaceably mounted to the body of the robot, wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by the fixed memory device and the exchangeable memory device, and wherein the software introduction means introduces the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program from the exchangeable memory device with priority placed thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A robot control system according to claim 4 , wherein the software introduction means introduces the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program from the fixed memory device when a usable hardware independent software program and/or a usable hardware dependent software program is not present in the exchangeable memory device or when the exchangeable memory device is not loaded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
155 words
A robot control software program introducing method for introducing a hardware dependent software program and a hardware independent software program into a robot including a combination of a plurality of hardware configuration elements, the method comprising: a hardware independent software program providing step for providing the hardware independent software program, a hardware dependent software program providing step for providing at least one hardware dependent software program, a hardware configuration information acquisition step for acquiring hardware configuration information of the robot, a hardware dependent software program selection step for selecting a hardware dependent software program, compatible with the hardware configuration information acquired in the hardware configuration information acquisition step, and provided in the hardware dependent software providing step, and a software introduction step for introducing, into a system, the hardware independent software program provided in the hardware independent software program providing step, and the hardware dependent software program selected in the hardware dependent software selection step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
155 words
A robot control software program introducing method for introducing a hardware dependent software program and a hardware independent software program into a robot including a combination of a plurality of hardware configuration elements, the method comprising: a hardware independent software program providing step for providing the hardware independent software program, a hardware dependent software program providing step for providing at least one hardware dependent software program, a hardware configuration information acquisition step for acquiring hardware configuration information of the robot, a hardware dependent software program selection step for selecting a hardware dependent software program, compatible with the hardware configuration information acquired in the hardware configuration information acquisition step, and provided in the hardware dependent software providing step, and a software introduction step for introducing, into a system, the hardware independent software program provided in the hardware independent software program providing step, and the hardware dependent software program selected in the hardware dependent software selection step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A robot control software program introducing method according to claim 6 , wherein the robot comprises a memory device which is permanently fixed to the body of the robot, and wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by the fixed memory device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A robot control software program introducing method according to claim 6 , wherein the robot comprises a memory device which is replaceably mounted to the body of the robot, and wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by the exchangeable memory device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
A robot control software program introducing method according to claim 8 , wherein the robot comprises a memory device which is permanently fixed to the body of the robot, and a memory device which is replaceably mounted to the body of the robot, wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by the fixed memory device and the exchangeable memory device, and wherein the software introducing step introduces the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program from the exchangeable memory device with priority placed thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A robot control software program introducing method according to claim 9 , wherein the software introduction means introduces the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program from the exchangeable memory device when a usable hardware independent software program and/or a usable hardware dependent software program is not present in the exchangeable memory device or when the exchangeable memory device is not loaded.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
A robot control system which controls a robot including a combination of a plurality of hardware elements using a hardware dependent software program and a hardware independent software program, wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by a memory device which is permanently fixed to the body of the robot and a memory device which is replaceably mounted to the body of the robot, wherein the robot control system controls the robot in one of a best match operation mode, an intercompatible operation mode, and a fixed operation mode, and wherein in the best match operation mode, the robot is controlled using the hardware dependent software program and the hardware independent software program introduced from the exchangeable memory device, in the intercompatible operation mode, the robot is controlled using the hardware dependent software program introduced from the fixed memory device and the hardware independent software program introduced from the exchangeable memory device, and in the fixed operation mode, the robot is controlled using the hardware dependent software program and the hardware independent software program introduced from the fixed memory device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
187 words
A robot control system which controls a robot including a combination of a plurality of hardware elements using a hardware dependent software program and a hardware independent software program, wherein the hardware independent software program and/or the hardware dependent software program is provided by a memory device which is permanently fixed to the body of the robot and a memory device which is replaceably mounted to the body of the robot, wherein the robot control system controls the robot in one of a best match operation mode, an intercompatible operation mode, and a fixed operation mode, and wherein in the best match operation mode, the robot is controlled using the hardware dependent software program and the hardware independent software program introduced from the exchangeable memory device, in the intercompatible operation mode, the robot is controlled using the hardware dependent software program introduced from the fixed memory device and the hardware independent software program introduced from the exchangeable memory device, and in the fixed operation mode, the robot is controlled using the hardware dependent software program and the hardware independent software program introduced from the fixed memory device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A robot control system according to claim 11 , wherein one of the best match operation mode, the intercompatible operation mode, and the fixed operation mode is selected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5579444A
Cited
US5276881A
Cited
US5280613A
Cited
EP0855335A2
Cited
JPH1158280A
Cited
US6411055B1
Cited
US6321140B1
Cited
US6430471B1
Cited
JP2000267852A
Cited
JP2000210886A
Cited
US6351706B1
Cited
US6292714B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-24 | 2006-08-26 | 2007-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | 2011-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-24 | 2014-08-26 | 2015-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |