Patents by Inventor Erik D. Demaine

Erik D. Demaine 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).

  • Self-folding machines
    Patent number: 10151304
    Abstract: A self-folding machine comprises a laminate including a flexible layer with a first side and a second side; a first rigid layer including at least one gap laminated to the first side of the flexible layer; a second rigid layer including at least one gap laminated to the second side of the flexible layer, wherein the rigid layers are more rigid than the flexible layer; a first contractible layer laminated to the first rigid layer and extending across at least one gap in the first rigid layer; and a second contractible layer laminated to the second rigid layer and extending across at least one gap in the second rigid layer, wherein the first and second contractible layers retract to respectively create folds in the machine across gaps in the first and second rigid layers when activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Samuel M. Felton, Robert J. Wood, Michael T. Tolley, Erik D. Demaine, Daniela Rus
  • Self-Folding Machines
    Publication number: 20160040657
    Abstract: A self-folding machine comprises a laminate including a flexible layer with a first side and a second side; a first rigid layer including at least one gap laminated to the first side of the flexible layer; a second rigid layer including at least one gap laminated to the second side of the flexible layer, wherein the rigid layers are more rigid than the flexible layer; a first contractible layer laminated to the first rigid layer and extending across at least one gap in the first rigid layer; and a second contractible layer laminated to the second rigid layer and extending across at least one gap in the second rigid layer, wherein the first and second contractible layers retract to respectively create folds in the machine across gaps in the first and second rigid layers when activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicants: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Samuel M. Felton, Robert J. Wood, Michael T. Tolley, Erik D. Demaine, Daniela Rus
  • Approximating node-weighted Steiner network of terminals
    Patent number: 7933224
    Abstract: According to one method for approximating a network of terminals, a graph comprising nodes and edges connecting at least some of the nodes is received. The nodes include terminals and non-terminal nodes. The non-terminal nodes are each associated with a weight. The terminals are each initialized to a value. The values of the terminals are incremented by a given amount until the values of the terminals reach a sufficient amount to acquire at least one of the non-terminal nodes that connects at least two of the terminals based on the weight of the at least one of the non-terminal nodes. Upon the values of the terminals reaching the sufficient amount, the at least one of the non-terminal nodes and the edges connecting the at least one of the non-terminal nodes to the at least two of the terminals are acquired to form a connected component in the network of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Mohammad Taghi Hajiaghayi, Erik D. Demaine, Philip N. Klein
  • Approximating Node-Weighted Steiner Network of Terminals
    Publication number: 20100128631
    Abstract: According to one method for approximating a network of terminals, a graph comprising nodes and edges connecting at least some of the nodes is received. The nodes include terminals and non-terminal nodes. The non-terminal nodes are each associated with a weight. The terminals are each initialized to a value. The values of the terminals are incremented by a given amount until the values of the terminals reach a sufficient amount to acquire at least one of the non-terminal nodes that connects at least two of the terminals based on the weight of the at least one of the non-terminal nodes. Upon the values of the terminals reaching the sufficient amount, the at least one of the non-terminal nodes and the edges connecting the at least one of the non-terminal nodes to the at least two of the terminals are acquired to form a connected component in the network of terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Mohammad Taghi Hajiaghayi, Erik D. Demaine, Philip N. Klein