Patents Assigned to Bend Labs, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11023044
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a glove for a human hand, and a sensing network coupled to the glove. The sensing network includes a strand of compliant material with a center axis and a multi-region angular displacement sensor connected to the strand. The multi-region angular displacement sensor includes a first angular displacement unit in a first sense region of the stand. The first angular displacement unit is used to determine a first angular displacement in response to deformation of the first angular displacement unit by a first joint of the human hand. The multi-region angular displacement sensor also includes a second angular displacement unit disposed in a second sense region of the strand. The second angular displacement unit is used to determine a second angular displacement in response to deformation of the second angular displacement unit by a second joint of the human hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bend Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Reese, Jared K. Jonas, Matt W. Ball, Colton Allen Ottley
  • Patent number: 10959644
    Abstract: Disclosed is a first force sensing region of footwear. The first force sensing region includes a first force sensor unit. The first force sensor unit includes a first compliant capacitor disposed with respect to a first plane. The first force sensor unit also includes a strain transformation structure disposed with respect to the first plane. The strain transformation structure includes a first transformation element coupled to an outer surface of the first electrode of the first compliant capacitor and a second transformation element coupled to an outer surface of the second electrode of the first compliant capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bend Labs Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Reese, Jared K. Jonas, Colton Allen Ottley, Garvin Tran, Nathan Briggs
  • Patent number: 10823546
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a strand of compliant material with a center axis. The apparatus further includes a multi-region angular displacement sensor connected to the strand. The multi-region angular displacement sensor includes a first angular displacement unit in a first sense region of the stand. The first angular displacement unit is used to determine a first angular displacement in response to deformation of the first angular displacement unit. The multi-region angular displacement sensor also includes a second angular displacement unit disposed in a second sense region of the strand. The second angular displacement unit is used to determine a second angular displacement in response to deformation of the second angular displacement unit. The multi-region angular displacement sensor also includes a reinforcement structure that restricts movement of the first and second angular displacement unit with respect to the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BEND LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Reese, Jared K. Jonas, Matt W. Ball, Colton Allen Ottley
  • Patent number: 10551917
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a glove for a human hand, and a sensing network coupled to the glove. The sensing network includes a strand of compliant material with a center axis and a multi-region angular displacement sensor connected to the strand. The multi-region angular displacement sensor includes a first angular displacement unit in a first sense region of the stand. The first angular displacement unit is used to determine a first angular displacement in response to deformation of the first angular displacement unit by a first joint of the human hand. The multi-region angular displacement sensor also includes a second angular displacement unit disposed in a second sense region of the strand. The second angular displacement unit is used to determine a second angular displacement in response to deformation of the second angular displacement unit by a second joint of the human hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bend Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn P. Reese, Jared K. Jonas, Matt W. Ball, Colton Allen Ottley
  • Patent number: 9874431
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus including a compliant capacitor and an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end. The elongated structure is compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions and is an elastomer based material. The compliant capacitor includes a first conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form a first electrode of the compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor also includes a second conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form a second electrode of the compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor further includes an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive filler and the second conductive filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Bend Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn P. Reese
  • Patent number: 9612102
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a strand of compliant material with a center axis. The apparatus further includes a multi-region angular displacement sensor connected to the strand. The multi-region angular displacement sensor includes a first angular displacement unit in a first sense region of the stand. The first angular displacement unit is used to determine a first angular displacement in response to deformation of the first angular displacement unit. The multi-region angular displacement sensor also includes a second angular displacement unit disposed in a second sense region of the strand. The second angular displacement unit is used to determine a second angular displacement in response to deformation of the second angular displacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: BEND LABS, INC
    Inventors: Shawn P. Reese, Jared K. Jonas, Matt W. Ball, Colton Allen Ottley
  • Patent number: 9476692
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus including a compliant capacitor and an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end. The elongated structure is compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions and is an elastomer based material. The compliant capacitor includes a first conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form a first electrode of the compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor also includes a second conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form a second electrode of the compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor further includes an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive filler and the second conductive filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Bend Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn P. Reese
  • Patent number: 9222764
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensing device that includes a flexible substrate having an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end, the elongated structure being compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions. The sensing device also includes a first compliant strain sensing element embedded within the compliant material and extending between the first end and the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure. The first compliant strain sensing element includes a second compliant material that is flexible and bendable, where an electrical property of the first compliant strain sensing element changes in proportion to an applied strain on the elongated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Bend Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn P. Reese
  • Patent number: 8941392
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensing device that includes a flexible substrate having an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end, the elongated structure being compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions. The sensing device also includes a first compliant strain sensing element embedded within the compliant material and extending between the first end and the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure. The first compliant strain sensing element includes a second compliant material that is flexible and bendable, where an electrical property of the first compliant strain sensing element changes in proportion to an applied strain on the elongated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Bend Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn P. Reese