Patents Examined by T. Scott Fix
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Patent number: 11976720Abstract: A sphere-type shift control apparatus of an electronic shift system includes a spherical mechanism that includes a shift control portion on a first hemispherical portion of the spherical mechanism and a design portion on a second hemispherical portion of the spherical mechanism. The design portion is configured to provide indirect illumination and transmit images. Power is transmitted from a motor to the rotation shaft of the spherical mechanism using a timing belt or a wire.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2023Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Sung Hun Lee, Chul Ho Chun, Min Gwon Lee, Tae Jo Kim
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Patent number: 11971073Abstract: A rotary shifter assembly for changing gears in a vehicle transmission includes a shaft (16) that is rotatably supported in a housing (12) and movable between radial positions for indicating a gear change. A shift knob (10) is coupled to a first end of the shaft for actuation by a user. A plurality of flexible locking fingers (40) extend from the second end, and an overload wheel (18) is disposed about the fingers. The fingers engage the wheel to couple it with the shaft for concurrent rotation. A locking mechanism (64) engages the wheel to selectively prevent and allow concurrent rotation of the wheel and shaft during normal operation. The fingers move relative to the wheel to permit temporary rotation of the shaft relative to the wheel when a force applied to the shaft is beyond a maximum torque threshold, and automatically return to concurrent rotation with the wheel once the force is below the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: KA Group AGInventor: David Blank
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Patent number: 11965583Abstract: Thrust chain device, includes a thrust chain with a straight portion along an axis and a curved portion, and links hinged on shafts, a chain guide, a driving sprocket with chain interlocking teeth, the sprocket being in contact with the chain via contact surfaces in the shape of an involute of a circle, the contact surfaces belonging to the teeth, a tooth engaging with the chain while defining a line of action having an angle with the shaft of the straight portion of between ?10° and 10°, the sprocket in contact with the straight portion and not the curved and is mounted such that it can rotate on a shaft on the side of the chain opposite the curved portion's center of curvature, the contact surfaces including a convex front surface directed towards the straight portion and a rear surface directed towards the curved portion when the tooth is interlocking.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: SERAPID FRANCEInventor: Romain Prevost
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Patent number: 11964385Abstract: Provided is a robot, including: a controller; a plurality of actuators mechanically coupled to an end-effector mount; a first set of end-effectors magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount; and a sensor adjacent an interface between at least some of the first set of end effectors and the end-effector mount, wherein: the end effectors are magnetically coupled to the end-effector mount with magnetic couplings that decouple in response to less than 200 Newtons of force being applied to distal portions of respective end effectors in a direction opposing movement of respective end effectors driven by at least some of the actuators, and the sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a given end effector decoupling and indicate which end effector in the first decoupled.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Truebird Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael Hazen Knuepfel, Andrew William Lynch, Darian Montague Ahler, Jordan Ross Adelson
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Patent number: 11950867Abstract: Disclosed herein are various robotic surgical devices and systems that include first and second elongate bodies, first and second driveshafts disposed through the second elongate body, and an in-line shoulder joint with a robotic arm coupled thereto. In certain implementations, the in-line shoulder joint has a differential yoke and a dual shaft disposed within the yoke lumen.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of NebraskaInventors: Joseph Palmowski, Shane Farritor
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Patent number: 11953087Abstract: A shift lever device for an electric vehicle that provides the feeling of operating an MT shift lever. The device includes a retainer with a spherical bearing, a lever body that can swing in a shift direction and a select direction about a ball held in the spherical bearing, and a position sensor unit placed at a lower portion of the retainer. The position sensor unit includes a slider that can slide in a case in the select direction, a magnet that can slide on the slider in the shift direction, a sensor board placed on a bottom of the case and configured to detect a position of the magnet, and a detent plate with an MT shift pattern on a top surface of the case. The magnet is engaged with a lower end of the lever body that penetrates the detent plate and extends into the case.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2023Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Mannoh Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Saburo Kato
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Patent number: 11938621Abstract: The present application relates to the technical field of robot joints, and discloses a robot dual-joint unit, and a legged robot and a cooperative manipulator using the same. The robot dual-joint unit includes a first joint consisting of a first motor and reducer assembly, a second joint consisting of a second motor assembly and a second reducer; a first output connecting rod is fixedly provided on an output shaft of the first motor and reducer assembly, the second reducer is provided in the first output connecting rod, and the second motor assembly drives the second reducer through a transmission rod.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: HANGZHOU YUSHU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Xingxing Wang, Zhiyu Yang
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Patent number: 11926048Abstract: Modular components may be used to build a robotic manipulator. A subset of the modular components can be selected to build the robotic manipulator based on a schematic. The subset of modular components can be assembled in different combinations to build the robotic manipulator. Using one of the combinations of the subset of modular components, the robotic manipulator can be built.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bertan Atamer, Yuri Anatoly Ivanov
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Patent number: 11929276Abstract: An apparatus including a first base plate, where the first base plate is configured to have at least one linear drive component and/or at least one power coupling component connected to a top side of the first base plate, where the first base plate is configured to be located inside a vacuum chamber; and a plurality of rails or transport guides on the top side of the first base plate. An end of the first base plate includes at least one alignment feature configured to align an end of the first base plate to an end of a second base plate. The first base plate is configured to provide, in combination with the second base plate, a structural platform inside the vacuum chamber for a robot drive to move in the vacuum chamber along the plurality of transport guides.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Persimmon Technologies CorporationInventors: Martin Hosek, Sripati Sah
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Patent number: 11927249Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a linear-to-rotary apparatus that includes a linear actuator having an actuator housing including a piston chamber, a piston shaft disposed in the piston chamber, and a rotor apparatus. The rotor apparatus includes a rotary joint defining a rotational axis, a rotor arm extending radially from the rotary joint and configured to at least partially pivot about the rotary joint, and a torque linkage pivotably connected to the rotor arm. The torque linkage is also attached to an end of the piston shaft of the piston at a pivot connection joint, where the pivot connection joint defines a pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the translation axis of the piston shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Craig D. Mawle, Mark A. Spickard, Barry T. Brinks
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Patent number: 11913539Abstract: A sphere-type shift control apparatus of an electronic shift system includes a spherical mechanism that includes a shift control portion on a first hemispherical portion of the spherical mechanism and a design portion on a second hemispherical portion of the spherical mechanism. The design portion is configured to provide indirect illumination and transmit images. Power is transmitted from a motor to the rotation shaft of the spherical mechanism using a timing belt or a wire.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Sung Hun Lee, Chul Ho Chun, Min Gwon Lee, Tae Jo Kim
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Patent number: 11890756Abstract: A leg assembly and a legged robot having same are provided. The leg assembly includes a first leg, a second leg, a motor, an output flange and a transmission component. The motor is arranged at a first end of the first leg, and an output shaft of the motor is connected to the output flange to drive the output flange to rotate. The first leg is pivotably connected to the second leg, and the transmission component is connected to the output flange and the second leg to drive the second leg to rotate relative to the first leg. The output flange is provided with a first limiting portion, the first leg is provided with a first stop portion and a second stop portion spaced apart and configured to stop the first limiting portion, and the first leg is provided with a second limiting portion configured to stop the second leg.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI ROBOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Yiyang Liu, Wenping Guo, Xiaomao Wei, Fang Zhi, Shuang Li
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Patent number: 11890929Abstract: A steering column assembly that includes an upper jacket and a gear shift assembly. The upper jacket extends along a steering column axis. The gear shift assembly includes a shift assembly bracket and shift shaft assembly. The shift assembly bracket has a column mounting portion that is operatively connected to the upper jacket and a cradle portion extends from the column mounting portion. The cradle portion has a first sidewall and a second sidewall each extending from a base. The shift shaft assembly extends at least partially through the first sidewall and the second sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Michael C. Vermeersch, Melvin L. Tinnin, Arthur W. Nellett
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Patent number: 11872700Abstract: A robot includes: a first member; a second member that is rotationally driven around a first axis with respect to the first member; a third member that is rotationally driven around a second axis with respect to the second member, the second axis being located at an interval from the first axis; a single axis torque detection unit that detects only at least one of torque around the first axis and torque around the second axis; and a force sensor that is provided between the first member and a surface to be installed, or in the first member, the second member or the third member, and is capable of detecting force in a direction intersecting with both the first axis and the second axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: FANUC CORPORATIONInventors: Yasunobu Hatada, Toshihiro Nishimura, Kazutaka Nakayama
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Patent number: 11865712Abstract: An arm joint for a manipulator having a motor with a transmission, comprising a gear wheel that can rotate about a transmission axis of rotation, wherein the gear wheel is rotatably mounted in a housing of the arm joint and has an adapter on at least one of its end sides, and wherein the adapter has an opening that is central relative to the transmission axis of rotation on the side facing away from the end side of the gear wheel The central opening has an internal thread for the purpose of a simple construction, easy assembly and a great number of variation possibilities in terms of construction and application.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: IGUS GMBHInventors: Martin Raak, Felix Berger
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Lever gear for a wheel wind deflector and method for operating a lever gear with overload protection
Patent number: 11840287Abstract: The invention relates to a lever system for a wheel wind deflector which is fitted to a vehicle, having a first lever and a second lever which are rotatably connected to each other by means of an articulation, wherein the articulation contains at least one ball in a sleeve, a spring and a support, wherein the ball is guided on an outer contour of the second lever.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS GMBHInventor: Bernd Knauer -
Patent number: 11833674Abstract: A bi-directional robotic crawler includes a first drive system having a first drive member, a second drive member, and a support member. The first drive member includes a first pair of wheels and the second drive member includes a second pair of wheels. A second drive system includes a third drive member and a fourth drive member. The third drive member includes a first drive element and the fourth drive member includes a second drive element. A linking member selectively pivots the third drive member and the fourth drive member relative to the support member. A motor is mounted to the first drive system. The motor selectively operates the first and second pairs of wheels to move the bi-directional robotic crawler along a first axis and the first and second drive elements to move the bi-directional robotic crawler along a second axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Honeybee Robotics, LLCInventors: Shazad Sadick, Jack Wilson, Jonathan Bohren
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Patent number: 11821250Abstract: The invention concerns a spindle drive for a closing element (3) of a motor vehicle (4), wherein in a drive train (14) of the spindle drive (1), a drive unit (5) is provided together with a spindle-nut gear (11) located drivingly downstream of the drive unit (5), with geometric spindle axis (A) running in the axial direction (X), in order to generate linear drive movements of a spindle-side drive connection (12a) relative to a nut-side drive connection (12b) between a retracted position and an extended position of the spindle drive (1), wherein in the drive train (14) a nominal break point (17) is provided which separates the drive train (14) at a predetermined axial limit load acting on the spindle drive (1) via the drive connections (12a, 12b), in particular a tensile load in the direction of the extension position. It is proposed that the drive train (14) is separated via the nominal break point (17) between the drive unit (5) and the spindle-nut gear (11).Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE SE & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERGInventors: Michael Schneiderbanger, Stefan Wild, Harald Krüger
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Patent number: 11815175Abstract: In a control device of an electric vehicle including a motor, driving wheels, a shifting device that is operated by a driver and selectively sets one of two shift positions of a traveling position that generates driving force by transmitting output torque of the motor to the driving wheels, and a non-traveling position that does not generate driving force without transmitting the output torque to the driving wheels, a controller causes the motor to output signal torque that enables the driver to sense a change in a vehicle behavior accompanied with switching of the shift position when the driver switches the shift position.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daijiro Kawasaki, Satoshi Yamanaka, Hideaki Otsubo
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Patent number: 11806865Abstract: There is provided a rotary actuator which makes it possible to operate a regulation release of a regulating member from the outside of a case body when the regulating member is in a regulation position, and can prevent an unexpected regulation release, and a robot. A drive mechanism of a joint part has a compression coil spring for biasing a regulation pin toward a regulation position, and a solenoid for moving the regulation pin 32 toward a regulation release position. A through hole is formed in a case body at a portion facing the upper end portion (the other end portion opposite to one end portion abutting against the regulation pin) of a plunger of the solenoid, and the upper end portion of the plunger is positioned on the inside of the case body while the regulation pin is in the regulation position.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATIONInventors: Yuu Ayuzawa, Takeshi Okuda