Patents by Inventor David W. Collinson

David W. Collinson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Processing methods and apparatus to manufacture a functional, multi-scale, tapered fiber from polymer filament
    Patent number: 11060214
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: David W. Collinson, Mitra J. Hartmann, L. Catherine Brinson
  • PROCESSING METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MANUFACTURE A FUNCTIONAL, MULTI-SCALE, TAPERED FIBER FROM POLYMER FILAMENT
    Publication number: 20190048495
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide artificial whisker filaments are disclosed and described. An example artificial whisker is tapered to include a tip diameter smaller than a base diameter of the artificial whisker, the artificial whisker formed from a polymer arranged to permit elastic deformation of the artificial whisker, the deformation of the artificial whisker to transmit force to a sensor associated with a base of the artificial whisker. An example method of manufacturing an artificial whisker includes removably affixing a first end of a filament to a heated, non-stick surface; drawing the filament across the surface to form a first, tapered portion, a second portion of the filament remaining on the surface, wherein the filament is to be drawn until the first portion is disengaged from the surface; and separating the first, tapered portion of the filament from the second portion of the filament to form a tapered artificial whisker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: David W. Collinson, Mitra J. Hartmann, L. Catherine Brinson