Patents Assigned to EMBR Labs IP LLC
  • Publication number: 20250057688
    Abstract: Systems and methods for manipulating the temperature of a surface are described. Described embodiments include thermal adjustment devices that may include a heatsink and that are operated in two or more modes of operation to apply a desired temperature to a user. In one operating mode the thermal adjustment device may apply a first temperature to an underlying surface while generating heat at a rate faster than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. The thermal adjustment device may then apply a second temperature to reduce the rate of heat generation to be less than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. These modes of operation may be applied cyclically to permit continuous operation of the thermal adjustment device. In some embodiments, the temperature profile applied when changing between the modes of operation may be selected such that the user experiences either a reduced, or substantially, neutral thermal sensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Kristen Warren, James Edwin Pendergrast
  • Patent number: 12213908
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating the temperature of a surface are provided. Devices of the present disclosure may include a thermal adjustment apparatus, such as a controller in electrical communication with one or more thermoelectric materials, placed adjacent to the surface of skin. The device may generate a series of thermal pulses at the surface, for providing an enhanced thermal sensation for a user. The thermal pulses may be characterized by temperature reversibility, where each pulse includes an initial temperature adjustment, followed by a return temperature adjustment, over a short period of time (e.g., less than 120 seconds). The average rate of temperature change upon initiation and upon return may be between about 0.1° C./sec and about 10.0° C./sec. In some cases, the average rate of the initial temperature adjustment is greater in magnitude than the average rate of the return temperature adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Samuel Shames, Michael A. Gibson, David Cohen-Tanugi
  • Patent number: 12169427
    Abstract: Methods and devices for manipulating the temperature of a surface are generally provided. The present disclosure relates to a device including one or more heating and/or cooling elements, or other suitable thermal adjustment apparatus(es), placed near a surface, such as the skin of a user. The device may be configured to generate one or more (optionally alternating) thermal profiles at the surface, which may include a series of thermal pulses and/or essentially continuous or semi-continuous thermal input, which may vary over time. Such thermal profiles, when suitably applied, may provide enhanced thermal sensations for a user which, in some cases, may provide the user with a more pleasurable thermal experience than would otherwise be the case without the generation of the thermal profiles. In some embodiments, an alternating thermal profile may include an average frequency, an oscillation window, and/or an average temperature, each of which may be adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Kristen Warren, David Cohen-Tanugi, Samuel Shames
  • Patent number: 12090086
    Abstract: Systems and methods for manipulating the temperature of a surface are described. Described embodiments include thermal adjustment devices that may include a heatsink and that are operated in two or more modes of operation to apply a desired temperature to a user. In one operating mode the thermal adjustment device may apply a first temperature to an underlying surface while generating heat at a rate faster than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. The thermal adjustment device may then apply a second temperature to reduce the rate of heat generation to be less than the heatsink's heat dissipation rate. These modes of operation may be applied cyclically to permit continuous operation of the thermal adjustment device. In some embodiments, the temperature profile applied when changing between the modes of operation may be selected such that the user experiences either a reduced, or substantially, neutral thermal sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Kristen Warren, James Edwin Pendergrast
  • Patent number: 12005021
    Abstract: Methods of operating a haptic actuator to apply physical and/or thermal sensations to a user to provide subjective symptom relief to a user are described. In some embodiments, a haptic actuator may be automatically activated when one or more detected user states are compared to one or more predetermined activation parameters to determine the user is experiencing an episode related to a condition of the user. In another embodiment, one or more operating parameters of a haptic actuator may be updated if the haptic actuator did not provided a desired amount of subjective symptom relief to a user during use. In yet another embodiment, a haptic actuator may create an event log based on activation events when the haptic actuator is used to provide symptom relief for a condition of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, David Cohen-Tanugi, Kristen Warren, Robert Balke
  • Publication number: 20240139065
    Abstract: Methods of operating a haptic actuator to apply physical and/or thermal sensations to a user to provide subjective symptom relief to a user are described. In some embodiments, a haptic actuator may be automatically activated when one or more detected user states are compared to one or more predetermined activation parameters to determine the user is experiencing an episode related to a condition of the user. In another embodiment, one or more operating parameters of a haptic actuator may be updated if the haptic actuator did not provided a desired amount of subjective symptom relief to a user during use. In yet another embodiment, a haptic actuator may create an event log based on activation events when the haptic actuator is used to provide symptom relief for a condition of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, David Cohen-Tanugi, Kristen Warren, Robert Balke
  • Publication number: 20240139064
    Abstract: Methods of operating a haptic actuator to apply physical and/or thermal sensations to a user to provide subjective symptom relief to a user are described. In some embodiments, a haptic actuator may be automatically activated when one or more detected user states are compared to one or more predetermined activation parameters to determine the user is experiencing an episode related to a condition of the user. In another embodiment, one or more operating parameters of a haptic actuator may be updated if the haptic actuator did not provided a desired amount of subjective symptom relief to a user during use. In yet another embodiment, a haptic actuator may create an event log based on activation events when the haptic actuator is used to provide symptom relief for a condition of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, David Cohen-Tanugi, Kristen Warren, Robert Balke
  • Publication number: 20240050272
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating the temperature of a surface are provided. Devices of the present disclosure may include a thermal adjustment apparatus, such as a controller in electrical communication with one or more thermoelectric materials, placed adjacent to the surface of skin. The device may generate a series of thermal pulses at the surface, for providing an enhanced thermal sensation for a user. The thermal pulses may be characterized by temperature reversibility, where each pulse includes an initial temperature adjustment, followed by a return temperature adjustment, over a short period of time (e.g., less than 120 seconds). The average rate of temperature change upon initiation and upon return may be between about 0.1° C./sec and about 10.0° C./sec. In some cases, the average rate of the initial temperature adjustment is greater in magnitude than the average rate of the return temperature adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Samuel Shames, Michael Gibson, David Cohen-Tanugi
  • Publication number: 20240053807
    Abstract: Methods and devices for manipulating the temperature of a surface are generally provided. The present disclosure relates to a device including one or more heating and/or cooling elements, or other suitable thermal adjustment apparatus(es), placed near a surface, such as the skin of a user. The device may be configured to generate one or more (optionally alternating) thermal profiles at the surface, which may include a series of thermal pulses and/or essentially continuous or semi-continuous thermal input, which may vary over time. Such thermal profiles, when suitably applied, may provide enhanced thermal sensations for a user which, in some cases, may provide the user with a more pleasurable thermal experience than would otherwise be the case without the generation of the thermal profiles. In some embodiments, an alternating thermal profile may include an average frequency, an oscillation window, and/or an average temperature, each of which may be adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Kristen Warren, David Cohen-Tanugi, Samuel Shames
  • Patent number: 11759350
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating the temperature of a surface are provided. Devices of the present disclosure may include a thermal adjustment apparatus, such as a controller in electrical communication with one or more thermoelectric materials, placed adjacent to the surface of skin. The device may generate a series of thermal pulses at the surface, for providing an enhanced thermal sensation for a user. The thermal pulses may be characterized by temperature reversibility, where each pulse includes an initial temperature adjustment, followed by a return temperature adjustment, over a short period of time (e.g., less than 120 seconds). The average rate of temperature change upon initiation and upon return may be between about 0.1° C./sec and about 10.0° C./sec. In some cases, the average rate of the initial temperature adjustment is greater in magnitude than the average rate of the return temperature adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: EMBR Labs IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Samuel Shames, Michael A. Gibson, David Cohen-Tanugi