IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,508,712
Granted Patent B2
US 12,508,712 · App. 18/457,788 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Contact management mode for robotic imaging system using multiple sensors

Inventor: Patrick Terry (Goleta, CA)
Assignee: Alcon, Inc
B25J9/1674A61B3/14B25J13/025B25J15/0019
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,508,712
App. No.
18/457,788
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robotic imaging system includes a body with a head unit, a robotic arm and a coupling plate. A camera is positioned in the head unit and configured to record one or more images of a target site. The camera is operatively connected to one or more handles. A plurality of sensors is configured to transmit sensor data. The sensors include at least one primary sensor configured to detect respective force and/or respective torque applied at the body and at least one auxiliary sensor configured to detect the respective force and/or the respective torque applied at the one or more handles. A controller is configured to receive the sensor data and execute a contact management mode, including determining a contact location of the body with an external object based in part on the sensor data and determining a reverse trajectory for moving the body away from the contact location.

Claims (37)

1 . A robotic imaging system comprising:

a body including a head unit, a robotic arm and a coupling plate coupling the head unit to the robotic arm, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the head unit;

a camera positioned in the head unit and configured to record one or more images of a target site, the camera being operatively connected to one or more handles;

a plurality of sensors configured to transmit sensor data, including:

at least one primary sensor configured to detect respective force and/or respective torque applied at the body, the at least one primary sensor being operatively coupled to the robotic arm; and

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to detect the respective force and/or the respective torque applied at the one or more handles, the at least one auxiliary sensor being operatively coupled to the one or more handles;

a controller configured to receive the sensor data, the controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded; and

wherein the controller is adapted to execute a contact management mode, including determining a contact location of the body with an external object based in part on the sensor data, and determining a reverse trajectory for moving the body away from the contact location.

2 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is a stereoscopic camera configured to record a left image and a right image for producing at least one stereoscopic image of the target site.

3 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors respectively includes a six-degrees-of-freedom haptic force-sensing device.

4 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the target site is an eye.

5 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more handles include a first handle and a second handle rigidly affixed to and connected by a handlebar, the at least one auxiliary sensor being a single sensor positioned on the handlebar.

6 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more handles include a first handle and a second handle, the at least one auxiliary sensor including a first auxiliary sensor affixed to the first handle and a second auxiliary sensor affixed to the second handle.

7 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one primary sensor is located at a center point between the robotic arm and the camera.

8 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors defines respective frames of reference, the controller being adapted to transform the respective frames of reference to a common frame.

9 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to apply correction factors to the sensor data, including applying a low-pass filter.

10 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to apply correction factors to the sensor data, including correcting for gravity for the plurality of sensors based on their respective location.

11 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted obtain a boundary plane extending through the contact location and perpendicular relative to a first direction.

12 . The robotic imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the reverse trajectory begins in a direction orthogonal to the boundary plane.

13 . The robotic imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the reverse trajectory is constrained to a surface of a virtual sphere.

14 . The robotic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein:

the sensor data provides a measured torque and a measured force at a measured location, the measured location and the contact location being connected by a displacement vector; and

the controller is adapted to determine the applied torque at the contact location as a difference between the measured torque and an applied force crossed with the displacement vector.

15 . A robotic imaging system comprising:

a body including a head unit, a robotic arm and a coupling plate coupling the head unit to the robotic arm, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the head unit;

a camera positioned in the head unit and configured to record one or more images of a target site, the camera being operatively connected to one or more handles;

a plurality of sensors configured to transmit sensor data, including:

at least one primary sensor configured to detect respective force and/or respective torque applied at the body, the at least one primary sensor being operatively coupled to the robotic arm; and

at least one auxiliary sensor configured to detect the respective force and/or the respective torque applied at the one or more handles, the at least one auxiliary sensor being operatively coupled to the one or more handles;

a controller configured to receive the sensor data, the controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded; and

wherein the controller is adapted to execute a contact management mode, including:

obtaining a contact location of the body with an external object based in part on the sensor data;

obtaining a boundary plane extending through the contact location, the boundary plane being perpendicular to a reference axis; and

determining a reverse trajectory for the body to move away from the contact location.

16 . The robotic imaging system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more handles include a first handle and a second handle rigidly affixed to and connected by a handlebar, the at least one auxiliary sensor being a single sensor positioned on the handlebar.

17 . The robotic imaging system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more handles include a first handle and a second handle, the at least one auxiliary sensor including a first auxiliary sensor affixed to the first handle and a second auxiliary sensor affixed to the second handle.

18 . The robotic imaging system of claim 15 , wherein the reverse trajectory is constrained to a surface of a virtual sphere.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2023
From: TERRY, PATRICK
To: ALCON RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 064738/0467 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2023
From: ALCON RESEARCH, LLC
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 064738/0502 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63373890 · Aug 30, 2022
Related Publication 20240066704A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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