US Patent 7606777 - Artificial visual cortex

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7606777.html

This patent from M.I.T. teaches a hierarchical software model for an artificial visual cortex. Claim 1 reads:

1. An artificial visual recognition system comprising:

a digital processor; and

a model that effectively replicates a visual cortex, the model executed by the digital processor and having a loose hierarchy of layers, each layer, from a lowest hierarchy level to a top level, providing increasing selectivity and invariance of an input image such that model output produces feature recognition and classification of an object in the input image, the hierarchy allowing bypass routes between layers, at least one bypass route from a layer at one level to a higher layer enabling increased selectivity and decreased invariance to the input image at the higher layer relative to a layer at a hierarchy level succeeding the one level, the at least one bypass route corresponding to a direct projection in the visual cortex.

US Patent 7599895 - Synaptic switch with plasticity mechanism

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7599895.html

This patent from KnowmTech LLC teaches a route to achieve neuroplasticity using artificial synapses formed from nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A meta-stable switching apparatus, comprising:

a neural node comprising at least one synaptic element, said at least one synaptic element having a state input and said neural node having a state output, a plurality of meta-stable switches comprising said at least one synaptic element; and

a plasticity mechanism associated with said at least one synaptic element and neural node, wherein said plasticity mechanism acts on said at least one synaptic element so that said neural node reinforces at least one synaptic state of said at least one synaptic element in such a manner as to facilitate a transfer of said state input to said state output of said neural node.

US Patent 7596242 - Vehicular image analysis

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7596242.html

This patent from Automotive Technologies International relates to a image analysis system useful to a "smart" vehicle capable of making decisions such as the release of an air bag based on the visual image inside the vehicle cabin. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for obtaining information about an occupying item in a compartment in a vehicle, comprising:

obtaining a series of images of the compartment using an imaging device, each image being taken at a different time and at least one of which includes the occupying item;

using a processor for comparing a later obtained image from the series of images to at least one previously obtained image from the series of images to ascertain the presence of differences between the images; and

using the processor for analyzing the differences to obtain information about the occupying item.

US Patent 7593030 - Telerobotic video conferencing

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7593030.html

InTouch Technologies is a pioneer in robotic teleconferencing technologies which have been applied to applications such as remote presence health care. This latest patent from InTouch focuses on business teleconferencing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for conducting a business tele-conference, comprising:

moving a robot that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone, across a surface of a business facility with at least one signal from a first remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone;

transmitting images and sound between the first robot and the first remote station and displaying the image captured by the remote station camera on the robot screen;

moving the robot across the surface of the business facility with at least one signal from a second remote station that has a screen, a camera, a speaker and a microphone;

transmitting images and sound between the robot and the second remote station; and,

arbitrating to control access to the robot by either the first remote station or the second remote station.

US Patent 7580907 - Invariant object recognition neural network

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7580907.html

Despite the increases in processing power and memory densities in computer architectures over the past few decades the ability to achieve object recognition approaching the same level as human (or animal) capabilities has been lacking. This patent from a company called Evolved Machines may help fill this gap based on graphical processing units (GPUs). Claim 1 reads:

1. A computer-implemented method of object recognition, the method comprising:

defining simulated neural circuitry comprising a hierarchy of areas made up of neuronal elements, with each neuronal element comprising a tree of one or more branches, with each of the one or more branches being connected to receive inputs from multiple other neuronal elements, and establishing connectivity of the simulated neural circuitry using sequences of images that shift from moment to moment and represent objects moving through a visual field such that, after the connectivity is established, an image of each object, positioned at any location in that visual field, activates an invariant pattern of activity representing that object in outputs of a highest area of the simulated neural circuitry that corresponds to recognition of a presented object, wherein establishing connectivity comprises, when images of the object presented within a certain window in time trigger inputs to a branch and activate the branch, connections between those temporally correlated inputs and the branch are strengthened, such that in each successively higher area of the hierarchy the image triggers an increasingly invariant pattern of activity.

US Patent 7579803 - Method of robotic confinement

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7579803.html

For mobile robotic cleaning mechanisms it is desirable to limit movement to a particular region of a house or room. This latest patent from iRobot® deals with this problem by using a portable transmitter that defines the region of operation for the robot. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of confining a robot comprising:

providing a portable barrier signal transmitting device that includes at least a primary emitter;

emitting from the primary emitter a confinement beam primarily along an axis defining a directed barrier;

providing a mobile robot comprising a detector, a drive motor and a control unit controlling the drive motor;

detecting by the detector the directed barrier formed by the emitted confinement beam;

controlling the drive motor, based on the detecting, to cause the robot to avoid the directed barrier.

US Patent 7577481 - Method of inducing neuroplasticity in patients

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7577481.html

Neuroplasticity refers to the ability to change neurons and their organization in the brain. It used to be believed that such changes were not found in adult brains but there has been some challenge to this belief in the past decade. Advanced Neuromodulation Systems is a company that has developed a stimulation method for such neuroplasticity in treating strokes and which may also be important to future machine/brain interfaces. Claim 3 reads:

3. A method for providing cortical stimulation to a patient, comprising:

identifying a brain location at which a neuroplastic activity occurs or is expected to occur;

positioning an electrode beneath the scalp at a cortical stimulation site corresponding to the identified brain location;

applying an aperiodically varying electrical signal to the patient using the electrode; and

modulating the neuroplastic activity with the applied signal to affect a patient symptom.

US Patent 7567854 - Self-structuring and computing system

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7567854.html

The term self-assembly is often applied to chemical processes in which ordered patterns emerge based on the minimization of free energy. More recently the term is applicable to some types of robotic swarm systems which are provided with sensors to detect the relative positions of the robots making up the swarm. This patent from Neil Desmond teaches a similar matrix of robotic modules each having pivoting appendages adapted for assembling into programmable structures. Claim 1 reads:

1. A self structuring and computing system comprising:

a first module including: a first connecting assembly having a back wall and a central connector, a second connecting assembly having a back wall and a central connector, the second connecting assembly detachably coupled directly to said first connecting assembly, a third connecting assembly having a back wall and a central connector, the third connecting assembly detachably coupled directly to said first and second connecting assemblies, a housing defined at least in part by the back walls of the first, second and third connecting assemblies;

a container within the housing having a first, a second, and a third face, each of the central connectors abutting one of the first, second, and third faces of the container, and

a computing mechanism.