Patents by Inventor Steven Etheridge

Steven Etheridge 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).

  • Publication number: 20220313534
    Abstract: An enhanced actuator assembly, such as for use in driving a joint member of a wearable robotic device, is characterized by electrical isolation of the motor from the transmission system output. An actuator assembly includes a motor and a transmission system that provides a speed reduction of a motor speed to an output speed. The transmission system includes a non-conductive material layer that electrically isolates the motor from an output of the transmission system. The transmission system may be a two-stage transmission system. A first stage of speed reduction of the transmission system may include a first rotating member, such as a first helical gear, attached to the output shaft of the motor that transmits power to a second rotating member, such as a second helical gear. The second rotating member has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first rotating member to form the first stage of speed reduction, and the non-conductive material layer is part of the second rotating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan J. FARRIS, Steven ETHERIDGE, Scott A. MORRISON
  • Patent number: 11452659
    Abstract: A joint actuator assembly incudes a motor, a rotating driving member driven by the motor for driving a driven component, and a transmission assembly located between the motor and the rotating driving member that provides speed reduction from the motor to the rotating driving member. The rotating driving member includes a magnetic/electrical coupling comprising a magnetic coupling component configured to magnetically couple with an opposing magnetic coupling of the driven component, and an electrical element configured to provide an electrical connection to an opposing electrical element of the driven component. The actuator and driven component may be combined into a mobility device including a magnetic/electrical coupling system comprising a first magnetic/electrical coupling on the actuator assembly that magnetically and electrically couples to a second magnetic/electrical coupling on the driven component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Farris, Steven Etheridge, Scott Morrison
  • Patent number: 11331241
    Abstract: A joint actuator assembly includes a motor, a rotating driving member driven by the motor for driving a driven component, and a transmission assembly located between the motor and the rotating driving member that provides speed reduction from the motor to the rotating driving member. The rotating driving member comprises a magnetic coupling including a plurality of magnetic elements that are configured to magnetically couple with an opposing magnetic coupling of the driven component. The actuator and driven component may be combined into a mobility device including a magnetic coupling system having a first magnetic coupling on the actuator that magnetically couples to a second magnetic coupling on the driven component. The magnetic coupling system includes plurality of magnetic elements located as part of one or both of the first and second magnetic couplings. The first and second couplings have opposing mating surfaces that join together in a coupled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Farris, Steven Etheridge, Scott Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210338515
    Abstract: A joint actuator assembly includes a motor, a rotating driving member driven by the motor for driving a driven component, and a transmission assembly located between the motor and the rotating driving member that provides speed reduction from the motor to the rotating driving member. The rotating driving member comprises a magnetic coupling including a plurality of magnetic elements that are configured to magnetically couple with an opposing magnetic coupling of the driven component. The actuator and driven component may be combined into a mobility device including a magnetic coupling system having a first magnetic coupling on the actuator that magnetically couples to a second magnetic coupling on the driven component. The magnetic coupling system includes plurality of magnetic elements located as part of one or both of the first and second magnetic couplings. The first and second couplings have opposing mating surfaces that join together in a coupled position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Farris, Steven Etheridge, Scott Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210290470
    Abstract: A joint actuator assembly for a legged mobility device includes a motor that drives a joint connector for driving a joint of the mobility device, and a three-stage transmission of speed reduction to result in a high torque, low speed output. The first stage may include a small sprocket mechanically connected to the output shaft of the motor, and a large sprocket driven by a cable chain to provide the first speed reduction. The second stage may include a small central helical gear mechanically connected to the first stage output, and two opposing larger first and second outer helical gears that mesh with the central gear to provide the second speed reduction. The third stage may include a cable reel assembly including an output reel and a cable element that interconnects the output of the second stage and the output reel to provide the third speed reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Farris, Steven Etheridge, Scott Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210275382
    Abstract: A joint actuator assembly incudes a motor, a rotating driving member driven by the motor for driving a driven component, and a transmission assembly located between the motor and the rotating driving member that provides speed reduction from the motor to the rotating driving member. The rotating driving member includes a magnetic/electrical coupling comprising a magnetic coupling component configured to magnetically couple with an opposing magnetic coupling of the driven component, and an electrical element configured to provide an electrical connection to an opposing electrical element of the driven component. The actuator and driven component may be combined into a mobility device including a magnetic/electrical coupling system comprising a first magnetic/electrical coupling on the actuator assembly that magnetically and electrically couples to a second magnetic/electrical coupling on the driven component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Farris, Steven Etheridge, Scott Morrison
  • Patent number: 11077556
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobility device and related device including at least one drive component that drives at least one joint component is described. The control method may include executing a control application with an electronic controller to perform: receiving sensor information from sensors corresponding to a state and/or mode of the mobility device; analyzing the sensor information and determining a control mode of operation based on the sensor information; generating a control signal to output an alert via electronic indicators corresponding to the determined control mode; and controlling at least one drive component of the mobility device to selectively configure and modulate at least one joint component in accordance with the determined control mode of operation. Different alerts may be outputted by the electronic indicators depending on the nature or severity of the alert condition, accompanied by respective device control operations in accordance with the alert condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Skyler Ashton Dalley, Ryan Farris, Steven Etheridge, Scott Morrison, Spencer Murray
  • Publication number: 20190105777
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobility device and related device including at least one drive component that drives at least one joint component is described. The control method may include executing a control application with an electronic controller to perform: receiving sensor information from sensors corresponding to a state and/or mode of the mobility device; analyzing the sensor information and determining a control mode of operation based on the sensor information; generating a control signal to output an alert via electronic indicators corresponding to the determined control mode; and controlling at least one drive component of the mobility device to selectively configure and modulate at least one joint component in accordance with the determined control mode of operation. Different alerts may be outputted by the electronic indicators depending on the nature or severity of the alert condition, accompanied by respective device control operations in accordance with the alert condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Skyler Ashton Dalley, Ryan Farris, Steven Etheridge, Scott Morrison, Spencer Murray
  • Publication number: 20040023962
    Abstract: The present invention provides the use of frequency dependent voltage activated sodium channel blockers particularly lamotrigine in the prevention of noise induced hearing loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Steven Etheridge
  • Patent number: D972153
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan J. Farris, Geoff Kennard, Steven Etheridge