Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Fofonoff
Timothy A. Fofonoff 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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Publication number: 20240149471Abstract: Finger assembly and method for performing a grasping operation. The finger assembly includes a base portion; a fingertip portion opposite the base portion; a front link portion operably connected to the base portion at a first location and operably connected to the fingertip portion at a second location, wherein the front link portion is compliant such that a distance between the first location and second location is variable during a grasping operation; and a rear link portion opposite the front link portion and operably connected to the base portion at a third location and operably connected to the fingertip portion at a fourth location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Timothy Fofonoff, Nicholas Payton, Vivian Lee, Lael Odhner
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Publication number: 20230006522Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: Indigo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. HUNTER, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas MORIARTY, Scott T. Purchase
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Publication number: 20220266458Abstract: Robotic device configuration methods and systems. The methods described herein may involve operably positioning a robotic device with respect to a storage rack, wherein the storage rack holds at least one first coupling member configured with a first tool, and the robotic device includes a second coupling member; operably connecting the second coupling member to the first coupling member; and removing the first coupling member configured with the first tool from the storage rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2020Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Timothy A. Fofonoff, John Sullivan
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Patent number: 11368076Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas Moriarty, Scott T. Purchase
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Publication number: 20210167675Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2021Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Ian W. HUNTER, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas MORIARTY, Scott T. Purchase
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Patent number: 10938285Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas Moriarty, Scott T. Purchase
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Patent number: 10742083Abstract: A magnetic rotor including: a support structure with a rotational axis, with a front side having a first annular region encircling the rotational axis, and with a back side having a second annular region encircling the rotational axis, the support structure having a first array of pockets formed in the front side within the first annular region and encircling the rotational axis, and a second array of pockets formed in the back side within the second annular region and encircling the rotational axis, and wherein the pockets of the first array of pockets are interleaved with the pockets of the second array of pockets; a first plurality of magnets contained within the pockets of the first array of pockets on the first side of the support structure; and a second plurality of magnets contained within the pockets of the second array of pockets on the second side of the support structure, wherein the pockets of the first and second arrays of pockets have obstructions against which the magnets contained within the pType: GrantFiled: May 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Scott T. Purchase
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Patent number: 10644578Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a mechanical guide system supporting the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis; and a multi-bar linkage mechanism connecting to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connecting the hub assembly to the mechanical guide system, wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and third rType: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas Moriarty, Scott T. Purchase
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Publication number: 20200112239Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas MORIARTY, Scott T. Purchase
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Patent number: 10483832Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter G. Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas Moriarty, Scott T. Purchase
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Patent number: 10476360Abstract: An electric motor including: a hub assembly defining a rotational axis; a magnetic rotor assembly; a first coil stator assembly; a second coil stator assembly; and a system of rotor bearings rotatably supporting each of the magnetic rotor assembly, the first coil stator assembly, and the second coil stator assembly on the hub assembly so that each of the magnetic rotor assembly, the first coil stator assembly, and the second coil stator assembly are rotatable about the rotational axis independently of each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter Madden, Dean Ljubicic, Thomas Moriarty, Scott T. Purchase
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Publication number: 20180342917Abstract: A magnetic rotor including: a support structure with a rotational axis, with a front side having a first annular region encircling the rotational axis, and with a back side having a second annular region encircling the rotational axis, the support structure having a first array of pockets formed in the front side within the first annular region and encircling the rotational axis, and a second array of pockets formed in the back side within the second annular region and encircling the rotational axis, and wherein the pockets of the first array of pockets are interleaved with the pockets of the second array of pockets; a first plurality of magnets contained within the pockets of the first array of pockets on the first side of the support structure; and a second plurality of magnets contained within the pockets of the second array of pockets on the second side of the support structure, wherein the pockets of the first and second arrays of pockets have obstructions against which the magnets contained within the pType: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Ian W. HUNTER, Timothy A. FOFONOFF
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Publication number: 20180226188Abstract: Instead of being made from one continuous piece of material, a coil includes multiple flat coil segments that are stacked together and electrically coupled in series. In many embodiments, the coil segments are U-shaped segments, and the segments are arranged so that each segment is rotated (e.g., by 270 degrees) with respect the segment it follows. The stacked coils may then be fastened together using, for example, bolts through the corners of the coil segments. The combined coil segments form a continuous coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff
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Patent number: 9934904Abstract: Instead of being made from one continuous piece of material, a coil includes multiple flat coil segments that are stacked together and electrically coupled in series. In many embodiments, the coil segments are U-shaped segments, and the segments are arranged so that each segment is rotated (e.g., by 270 degrees) with respect the segment it follows. The stacked coils may then be fastened together using, for example, bolts through the corners of the coil segments. The combined coil segments form a continuous coil.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Nucleus Scientific, Inc.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff
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Publication number: 20180072125Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a mechanical guide system supporting the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis; and a multi-bar linkage mechanism connecting to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connecting the hub assembly to the mechanical guide system, wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and third rType: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff
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Publication number: 20180072120Abstract: An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, Peter G. Madden, Dean Ljubicic
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Publication number: 20180076701Abstract: An electric motor including: a hub assembly defining a rotational axis; a magnetic rotor assembly; a first coil stator assembly; a second coil stator assembly; and a system of rotor bearings rotatably supporting each of the magnetic rotor assembly, the first coil stator assembly, and the second coil stator assembly on the hub assembly so that each of the magnetic rotor assembly, the first coil stator assembly, and the second coil stator assembly are rotatable about the rotational axis independently of each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff
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Publication number: 20160380523Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator including: a core comprising a material having a high magnetic permeability relative to air; an array of coils sequentially arranged on the core, each coil of the array of coils being wound around the longitudinal axis of the core; and a magnet assembly movably mounted along the array of coils, the magnet assembly having a coil side facing the array of coils and an opposite side facing away from the array of coils and including an array of permanent magnets sequentially arranged along the array of coils in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the magnetic moments of the plurality of magnets are selected and arranged to augment the magnetic field produced on the coil side of the magnet assembly and to reduce the magnetic field produced on the opposite side of the magnet assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, George C. Whitfield
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Patent number: 9473009Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator including: a core comprising a material having a high magnetic permeability relative to air; an array of coils sequentially arranged on the core, each coil of the array of coils being wound around the longitudinal axis of the core; and a magnet assembly movably mounted along the array of coils, the magnet assembly having a coil side facing the array of coils and an opposite side facing away from the array of coils and including an array of permanent magnets sequentially arranged along the array of coils in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the magnetic moments of the plurality of magnets are selected and arranged to augment the magnetic field produced on the coil side of the magnet assembly and to reduce the magnetic field produced on the opposite side of the magnet assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: NUCLEUS SCIENTIFIC, INC.Inventors: Ian W. Hunter, Timothy A. Fofonoff, George C. Whitfield
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Publication number: 20160111987Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an electric motor including a first linear actuator including a first coil, a second linear actuator including a second coil, a rotational shaft, a cam assembly mounted on said rotational shaft for translating linear movement of the first and second linear actuators to rotational movement of the rotational shaft. The first coil is driven with a first signal that produces a first radially-directed force. The second coil is simultaneously driven with a second signal that produces a second radially-directed force, wherein the first radially-directed force is represented by a sine function and the second radially-directed force is represented by the sine function phase shifted by ±?/2 radians.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Ian W. HUNTER, Serge LAFONTAINE, Timothy A. FOFONOFF