Patents by Inventor Manuel L. Kuehner
Manuel L. Kuehner 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).
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Patent number: 11920992Abstract: Deformable sensors and methods for magnetically modifying membrane stiffness are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include a first magnet located on an inner surface of the membrane in the sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may additionally include a magnetic object located at a base within the sensor cavity. The magnetic object may be configured to modifiably repel the first magnet and modify stiffness of the deformable sensor based upon the modified repulsion.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Manuel L. Kuehner, Naveen Suresh Kuppuswamy
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Patent number: 11740065Abstract: Deformable sensors and methods for modifying membrane stiffness through magnetic attraction are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include magnetically-attractable particles located on or within the membrane. The deformable sensor may additionally include a magnetic object located at a base within the sensor cavity. The magnetic object may be configured to modifiably attract the magnetically-attractable particles and modify stiffness of the deformable sensor by modifying air pressure within the sensor cavity, based on modifiable strength of the magnetic object to attract the magnetically-attractable particles.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Manuel L. Kuehner, Naveen Suresh Kuppuswamy, Hiroshi Yasuda
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Patent number: 11686574Abstract: Deformable sensors and methods for modifying membrane stiffness are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include a rotational element having an adjustable vertical position and a modifiable rotation. The rotational element may be supported at a base of the sensor cavity. The rotational element may be configured to establish and withdraw contact with respect to the membrane to modify stiffness of the membrane. The rotational element may further be configured to modify stiffness of the membrane by withdrawing the rotational element from the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INCInventor: Manuel L. Kuehner
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Patent number: 11675385Abstract: Systems and device configurations are provided for reducing misstep, such as miscommunication between a vehicle and a driver that results in applying the incorrect pedal. Vehicle pedal configurations having a positioning element are described. Embodiments include pedal configurations having a pedal pad and at least one positioning element to adjust the pedal pad in response to pedal misstep. Pedal adjustment can include rotation of a pedal pad, rotation of portions of a pedal pad, and multibody pedal pad configurations. According to embodiment, a pedal pad includes vibrational elements to control vibration of the pedal. Embodiments are also directed to a pedal configuration including a flip plate. Systems are provided including a controller to control a pedal configuration and positioning elements. The controller may control the pedal based on a driving mode, such as an assistive driving state wherein operator is instructed to apply a pedal.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel L. Kuehner
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Publication number: 20230040504Abstract: Deformable sensors and methods for modifying membrane stiffness through magnetic attraction are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include magnetically-attractable particles located on or within the membrane. The deformable sensor may additionally include a magnetic object located at a base within the sensor cavity. The magnetic object may be configured to modifiably attract the magnetically-attractable particles and modify stiffness of the deformable sensor by modifying air pressure within the sensor cavity, based on modifiable strength of the magnetic object to attract the magnetically-attractable particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2021Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Manuel L. Kuehner, Naveen Suresh Kuppuswamy, Hiroshi Yasuda
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Publication number: 20230043164Abstract: Systems and device configurations are provided for reducing misstep, such as miscommunication between a vehicle and a driver that results in applying the incorrect pedal. Vehicle pedal configurations having a positioning element are described. Embodiments include pedal configurations having a pedal pad and at least one positioning element to adjust the pedal pad in response to pedal misstep. Pedal adjustment can include rotation of a pedal pad, rotation of portions of a pedal pad, and multibody pedal pad configurations. According to embodiment, a pedal pad includes vibrational elements to control vibration of the pedal. Embodiments are also directed to a pedal configuration including a flip plate. Systems are provided including a controller to control a pedal configuration and positioning elements. The controller may control the pedal based on a driving mode, such as an assistive driving state wherein operator is instructed to apply a pedal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel L. Kuehner
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Publication number: 20230034160Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling pedal feedback to an operator and vehicle control. One embodiment of a vehicle system includes a pedal having an engagement device configured to generate a pulling force on an operator device. The vehicle system also includes a controller configured to control the engagement device to generate the pulling force on the operator device. Embodiments also provide for electromagnetic and permanent magnet engagement devices, and control of engagement devices to engage an operator with a vehicle pedal. Embodiments also provide for multiple wearable configurations of operator devices for engaging with vehicle pedals. Processes are provided for activating and deactivating engagement devices in response to vehicle driving conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2021Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Manuel L. Kuehner, Hiroshi Yasuda
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Publication number: 20230021848Abstract: Deformable sensors and methods for magnetically modifying membrane stiffness are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include a first magnet located on an inner surface of the membrane in the sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may additionally include a magnetic object located at a base within the sensor cavity. The magnetic object may be configured to modifiably repel the first magnet and modify stiffness of the deformable sensor based upon the modified repulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Manuel L. Kuehner, Naveen Suresh Kuppuswamy
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Publication number: 20230026266Abstract: Deformable sensors and methods for modifying membrane stiffness are provided. A deformable sensor may include a membrane coupled to a housing to form a sensor cavity. The deformable sensor may further include a rotational element having an adjustable vertical position and a modifiable rotation. The rotational element may be supported at a base of the sensor cavity. The rotational element may be configured to establish and withdraw contact with respect to the membrane to modify stiffness of the membrane. The rotational element may further be configured to modify stiffness of the membrane by withdrawing the rotational element from the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventor: Manuel L. Kuehner
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Patent number: 11486744Abstract: A deformable sensor is provided. The deformable sensor includes a first deformable member defining a first cavity configured to be filled with a medium, a second deformable member defining a second cavity, a rigid component disposed between the first deformable member and the second deformable member such that the first deformable member is positioned on a first portion of the rigid component and the second deformable member is positioned on a second portion of the rigid component, the rigid component including an aperture disposed thereon, and a valve member configured to fluidly couple the first cavity of the first deformable member to the second cavity of the second deformable member via the aperture. The first deformable member has a first rigidity value when the valve member is configured in a first orientation, and a second rigidity value when the valve member is configured in the second orientation.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Manuel L. Kuehner, Hiroshi Yasuda
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Patent number: 11429132Abstract: Systems and device configurations are provided for reducing misstep, such as miscommunication between a vehicle and a driver that results in applying the incorrect pedal. Vehicle pedal configurations having a positioning element are described. Embodiments include pedal configurations having a pedal pad and at least one positioning element to adjust the pedal pad in response to pedal misstep. Pedal adjustment can include rotation of a pedal pad, rotation of portions of a pedal pad, and multibody pedal pad configurations. According to embodiment, a pedal pad includes vibrational elements to control vibration of the pedal. Embodiments are also directed to a pedal configuration including a flip plate. Systems are provided including a controller to control a pedal configuration and positioning elements. The controller may control the pedal based on a driving mode, such as an assistive driving state wherein operator is instructed to apply a pedal.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel L. Kuehner