User selection of robotic system operating modes using mode distinguishing operator actions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system operable in a plurality of operating modes, the system comprising:
- first and second input devices, the first input device grasped by a first hand of an operator, the second input device grasped by a second hand of the operator, each input device movable by the grasping hand of the operator in a plurality of degrees of freedom without releasing the input device so that the first and second input devices are movable by the operator in a combined plurality of degrees of freedom;
first and second manipulators;
a first device movable by the first manipulator in a first plurality of degrees of freedom, the first manipulator operatively coupled to a first at least one of the first and second input devices in a first operating mode to command movement of the first device by the first manipulator in the first plurality of degrees of freedom by using a first subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein a first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is not included in the first subset;
a second device movable by the second manipulator in a second plurality of degrees of freedom, the second manipulator operatively coupleable to a second at least one of the first and second input devices in a second operating mode to command movement of the second device by the second manipulator in the second plurality of degrees of freedom by using a second subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein the first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is included in the second subset so that the first non-used degree of freedom serves as a distinguishing action that distinguishes the second operating mode from the first operating mode; and
a processor programmed to change an operating mode of the system from the first operating mode to the second operating mode by operatively decoupling the first at least one of the first and second input devices from the first manipulator and operative coupling the second at least one of the first and second input devices to the second manipulator, upon determining that the first at least one of the first and second input devices has been moved by using the first non-used degree of freedom.
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Abstract
A robotic system has a plurality of user selectable operating modes. To select one of the operating modes, a user performs a distinguishing action which uniquely identifies a desired operating mode among the plurality of user selectable operating modes. A method implemented by a processor in the robotic system identifies the distinguishing action and places the robotic system in the user selected operating mode.
29 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system operable in a plurality of operating modes, the system comprising:
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first and second input devices, the first input device grasped by a first hand of an operator, the second input device grasped by a second hand of the operator, each input device movable by the grasping hand of the operator in a plurality of degrees of freedom without releasing the input device so that the first and second input devices are movable by the operator in a combined plurality of degrees of freedom; first and second manipulators; a first device movable by the first manipulator in a first plurality of degrees of freedom, the first manipulator operatively coupled to a first at least one of the first and second input devices in a first operating mode to command movement of the first device by the first manipulator in the first plurality of degrees of freedom by using a first subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein a first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is not included in the first subset; a second device movable by the second manipulator in a second plurality of degrees of freedom, the second manipulator operatively coupleable to a second at least one of the first and second input devices in a second operating mode to command movement of the second device by the second manipulator in the second plurality of degrees of freedom by using a second subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein the first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is included in the second subset so that the first non-used degree of freedom serves as a distinguishing action that distinguishes the second operating mode from the first operating mode; and a processor programmed to change an operating mode of the system from the first operating mode to the second operating mode by operatively decoupling the first at least one of the first and second input devices from the first manipulator and operative coupling the second at least one of the first and second input devices to the second manipulator, upon determining that the first at least one of the first and second input devices has been moved by using the first non-used degree of freedom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system operable in a plurality of operating modes, the system comprising:
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first and second input devices, each input device movable by an operator in a plurality of degrees of freedom so that the first and second input devices are movable by the operator in a combined plurality of degrees of freedom; first and second manipulators; a first device movable by the first manipulator in a first plurality of degrees of freedom, the first manipulator operatively coupled to a first at least one of the first and second input devices in a first operating mode to command movement of the first device by the first manipulator in the first plurality of degrees of freedom by using a first subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein a first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is not included in the first subset; a second device movable by the second manipulator in a second plurality of degrees of freedom, the second manipulator operatively coupleable to a second at least one of the first and second input devices in a second operating mode to command movement of the second device by the second manipulator in the second plurality of degrees of freedom by using a second subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein the first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is included in the second subset so that the first non-used degree of freedom serves as a distinguishing action that distinguishes the second operating mode from the first operating mode; a mode switch, wherein activation of the mode switch indicates that the operating mode of the system may be changed; and a processor programmed to change an operating mode of the system from the first operating mode to the second operating mode by operatively decoupling the first at least one of the first and second input devices from the first manipulator and operative coupling the second at least one of the first and second input devices to the second manipulator, upon determining that the first at least one of the first and second input devices has been moved by using the first non-used degree of freedom; wherein the processor is programmed to change the operating mode of the system from the first operating mode to the second operating mode after determining that the mode switch has been activated and upon determining that the first at least one of the first and second input devices has been moved by using the first non-used degree of freedom; and wherein the processor is programmed to change the operating mode of the system from the second operating mode back to the first operating mode upon the mode switch being deactivated.
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15. A system operable in a plurality of operating modes, the system comprising:
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first and second input devices, each input device movable by an operator in a plurality of degrees of freedom so that the first and second input devices are movable by the operator in a combined plurality of degrees of freedom; first and second manipulators; a first device movable by the first manipulator in a first plurality of degrees of freedom, the first manipulator operatively coupled to a first at least one of the first and second input devices in a first operating mode to command movement of the first device by the first manipulator in the first plurality of degrees of freedom by using a first subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein a first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is not included in the first subset; a second device movable by the second manipulator in a second plurality of degrees of freedom, the second manipulator operatively coupleable to a second at least one of the first and second input devices in a second operating mode to command movement of the second device by the second manipulator in the second plurality of degrees of freedom by using a second subset of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices, wherein the first non-used degree of freedom of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom of the first and second input devices is included in the second subset so that the first non-used degree of freedom serves as a distinguishing action that distinguishes the second operating mode from the first operating mode; a display; and a processor programmed to change an operating mode of the system from the first operating mode to the second operating mode by operatively decoupling the first at least one of the first and second input devices from the first manipulator and operative coupling the second at least one of the first and second input devices to the second manipulator, upon determining that the first at least one of the first and second input devices has been moved by using the first non-used degree of freedom; wherein the processor is programmed to cause one or more graphical indications to be displayed on the display, wherein each graphical indication indicates a movement of the first at least one of the first and second input devices by using one of the combined plurality of degrees of freedom that distinguishes a corresponding one of the plurality of operating modes from others of the plurality of operating modes; and wherein the first and second input devices are both used in the first operating mode and only one of the first and second input devices is used in the second operating mode so that the second operating mode is selected by the processor when only one of the first and second input devices is moved by the operator.
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Specification