Patents Assigned to Nitto Bend Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12559053
    Abstract: In an example, a vehicle seat sensor system includes a vehicle seat, a flexible seat sensor, and an electronics unit. The vehicle seat includes a seat surface. The flexible seat sensor is disposed within a deformable distance from the seat surface and includes one or more signal electrodes, one or more ground electrodes, one or more dielectric layers, and one or more capacitors. Each capacitor is formed by a combination of a corresponding signal electrode and a corresponding ground electrode with a corresponding dielectric layer positioned between the corresponding signal electrode and the corresponding ground electrode. The electronics unit is connected to the flexible seat sensor and is configured to electrically communicate with the flexible seat sensor. The flexible seat sensor is configured to provide a capacitive output proportional to an amount of pressure applied to the flexible seat sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignees: NITTO, INC., NITTO DENKO CORPORATION, NITTO BEND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Omote, Benedicto Delos Santos, Juma Belknap, John Bortell, Colton Allen Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 12379286
    Abstract: In an example, a vehicle tire includes a tread portion, a sidewall portion, and a sensor module for estimating one or more parameters of the tire. The sensor module includes a detector patch that includes one or more capacitors, each of which has an electrostatic capacity that is variable due to at least deformation of each capacitor. The sensor module also includes an electronics unit connected to each capacitor and configured to control the sensor module. The detector patch is adhered to an inside of at least one of the tread portion or the sidewall portion. At least one of the capacitors is located on the inside of the at least one of the tread portion or the sidewall portion. The electronics unit is configured to estimate at least one of the parameters based on the electrostatic capacity of each capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignees: NITTO, INC., NITTO DENKO CORPORATION, NITTO BEND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Omote, Benedicto Delos Santos, Martin John McCaslin, John Bortell, Sean Sousa, Colton Allen Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 12292343
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for additively manufacturing (e.g., by “printing” or the like) a bend sensor as a 2D structure that can then be configured into a 3D or stacked structure. Further disclosed embodiments include bend sensors with foldable sensing regions configurable into a 3D or stacked structure. A differential strain in a sensing region is linearly proportional to the displacement as measured from the endpoints of the sensing region. The differential strain is measurable as a differential change in the capacitance of the sensing regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Nitto Bend Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan Grimes, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 12220224
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a multi-mode sensor including an elastomeric strand having a first multi-mode sensing region configured to sense at least two different physical parameters, and a second multi-mode sensing region, space apart from the first multi-mode sensing region, and configured to sense at least two different physical parameters. In some disclosed embodiments the first multi-mode sensing region is configured to measure the physical parameters of angular displacement and strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Nitto Bend Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger
  • Publication number: 20240085251
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for additively manufacturing (e.g., by “printing” or the like) a bend sensor as a 2D structure that can then be configured into a 3D or stacked structure. Further disclosed embodiments include bend sensors with foldable sensing regions configurable into a 3D or stacked structure. A differential strain in a sensing region is linearly proportional to the displacement as measured from the endpoints of the sensing region. The differential strain is measurable as a differential change in the capacitance of the sensing regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicants: Nitto Bend Technologies, Inc., Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan Grimes, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Patent number: 11852546
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for additively manufacturing (e.g., by “printing” or the like) a bend sensor as a 2D structure that can then be configured into a 3D or stacked structure. Further disclosed embodiments include bend sensors with foldable sensing regions configurable into a 3D or stacked structure. A differential strain in a sensing region is linearly proportional to the displacement as measured from the endpoints of the sensing region. The differential strain is measurable as a differential change in the capacitance of the sensing regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Nitto Bend Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan Grimes, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Publication number: 20230380722
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a multi-mode sensor including an elastomeric strand having a first multi-mode sensing region configured to sense at least two different physical parameters, and a second multi-mode sensing region, space apart from the first multi-mode sensing region, and configured to sense at least two different physical parameters. In some disclosed embodiments the first multi-mode sensing region is configured to measure the physical parameters of angular displacement and strain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Nitto Bend Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger
  • Patent number: 11690531
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a multi-mode sensor including an elastomeric strand having a first multi-mode sensing region configured to sense at least two different physical parameters, and a second multi-mode sensing region, space apart from the first multi-mode sensing region, and configured to sense at least two different physical parameters. In some disclosed embodiments the first multi-mode sensing region is configured to measure the physical parameters of angular displacement and strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Nitto Bend Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger