Patents Examined by William C. Joyce
  • Patent number: 11649881
    Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a housing with first and second ends, and defining a central cavity extending axially therethrough; a tube having first and second portions, the first portion arranged to slide within the central cavity of the housing, and the second portion extending outwardly from the second end of the housing; a first elongated rotatable screw positioned axially within the central cavity and coaxial with the tube; a first nut mounted about the first elongated rotatable screw and configured to move axially as the first elongated rotatable screw rotates; a second elongated rotatable screw positioned axially within the central cavity; a second nut mounted about the second elongated rotatable screw and configured to move axially within the central cavity as the second elongated rotatable screw rotates; and a spring positioned around the second elongated rotatable screw between the second nut and the second end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KYNTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gerald J. Spyche, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11628579
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot, a controller that controls actuation of the robot, and a first external device, wherein the robot has a first member, a second member that pivots relative to the first member, a motor that generates drive power for pivoting the second member relative to the first member, an encoder including a detection unit that detects an amount of rotation of the motor, a control unit that controls actuation of the detection unit, a communication unit that communicates with the controller, and a first device connecting part connected to the first external device, the control unit connected to the detection unit, the communication unit, and the first device connecting part, and a first communication line connecting the communication unit and the controller, and data of the first external device is transmitted to the controller via the first device connecting part and the first communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Akitoshi Maeda, Daiki Tokushima, Takeru Saeki
  • Patent number: 11624476
    Abstract: A pivot unit comprising a linear actuator; a rod assembly driven by the linear actuator; an output shaft driven by the rod assembly; a housing enclosing the rod assembly and a portion of the output shaft, and attached to the linear actuator; a saddle driven by the output shaft; a first stop arm operatively attached to the first arm and a first end of the output shaft; a second stop arm operatively attached to the second arm and a second end of the output shaft; a first shock absorber secured to a first side of the housing and constructed and arranged to accept a first end of the first stop arm; and a second shock absorber secured to a second side of the housing and constructed and arranged to accept a first end of the second stop arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Tech Rim Standards, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Dellach
  • Patent number: 11624378
    Abstract: A pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) includes a bladder containing, internal to the bladder, the other components of the PAM: at least one valve controlling pneumatic pressure inside the bladder; at least one sensor configured to sense pressure inside the bladder; and at least one signal conditioning device, thereby providing a self-contained, volume-efficient, simple interface for the PAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph T. Hays, Jordan Schlater, Michael S. Kubista, Phillip A. Feerst, Chris Netwall, Kerry (andy) Griffith
  • Patent number: 11619269
    Abstract: During installation, an engagement structure of an actuator assembly positioning device restricts movement of a securement element of an anti-rotation bracket past a target location (e.g. midpoint) relative to a securement slot of an thereby, thereby guiding a user in positioning the anti-rotation bracket and actuator in a desired mounting arrangement. An optional constricting structure of the positioning device provides tactile feedback that the desired arrangement of the anti-rotation bracket and actuator has been reached. Upon being subject to a force in excess of a threshold force (e.g., as a result of eccentric loading on the actuator arising from an off-centered mounting of the actuator relative to a rotatable shaft), the engagement structure transitions to a second configuration in which the securement element is allowed to move past the target location, thereby accommodating eccentric movement of the actuator during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 11618159
    Abstract: A soft continuum robotic module comprises a plurality of inflatable actuators disposed between plates. Via inflation or deflation of one or more of the actuators, the module may extend, contract, twist, bend, and/or exert a grasping force. One or more modules may be combined to form a robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Wenlong Zhang, Pham Huy Nguyen, Zhi Qiao, Sam Seidel, Imran I. B. Mohd, Sunny Amatya
  • Patent number: 11613300
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steering apparatus including: a mounting housing which is formed on one side of a rack housing and has first threads formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof; a yoke body which is provided inside the mounting housing and supports a rack bar located inside the rack housing; and a pressing member which is provided inside the mounting housing, has second threads formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and is coupled to the mounting housing in a state in which the second threads are coupled to the first threads and are separated from the yoke body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Wook Son
  • Patent number: 11614160
    Abstract: A shift gate assembly that can include a shift plate, a gate seal and a shift lever. The shift plate can include a lever opening having an opening centerline. The gate seal can be made of an elastic material and connected to the shift plate and extend along the lever opening. The gate seal can include a slit extending along the lever opening and offset with respect to the opening centerline. The shift lever can extend through the lever opening and the slit, be selectively movable along the lever opening and the slit, and elastically deform the gate seal as the shift lever moves along the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shane R. Smith, Scott D. Batdorf, Lee N. Bowers, Bradford A. McDavid
  • Patent number: 11613239
    Abstract: A pressure supply unit for a brake system including a booster body that defines an axially extending cylinder. A piston is slideable within the cylinder. The piston defines a bore that receives a spindle. The spindle is rotationally fixed and axially moveable for providing the axial movement of the piston. A motor is positioned about the spindle and is configured to axially translate the spindle and piston. A ball and socket joint connects the piston and spindle while accommodating pivoting movement of the spindle. The ball and socket joint includes a ball at a front end of the spindle and a socket in the bore of the piston which receives the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BWI (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Trevor Matthew Schlangen, Eric Michael Higgins, David Fredrick Reuter, Brian Marc D'Amico, Frank Gerard Pirrello, Anthony Vincent Pesarek
  • Patent number: 11613028
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a joint unit including two facing gears that include respective two bevel gear members that face each other, and an intermediate gear that has a bevel gear member meshing with both the two bevel gear members. One of the two facing gears and the intermediate gear includes a first member including an inner circumferential portion of the bevel gear member of the one of the two facing gears and the intermediate gear; a second member including an outer circumferential portion of the bevel gear member of the one of the two facing gears and the intermediate gear; and a resilient member attached to one of the first member and the second member for normally urging the other of the first member and the second member to move in a direction along the directions of rotation of the one of the two facing gears and the intermediate gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Katsutsugu Fukamachi, Keiji Togawa, Hiroshi Osawa
  • Patent number: 11607800
    Abstract: A cycloidal transmission for a drive includes a housing, a drive shaft, an eccentric, a cam plate, a pin plate, an output shaft, and a torque detection mechanism. The housing includes a first bearing, a second bearing, and a rolling ring. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the first bearing. The eccentric is fixedly connected to the drive shaft. The cam plate is driven by the eccentric. The cam plate is configured to roll in the rolling ring. Pins of the pin plate are configured to engage holes of the cam plate, so that the pin plate is driven by the cam plate. The output shaft is fixedly connected to the pin plate. The output shaft is rotatably mounted in the second bearing. The torque detection mechanism is between the first bearing and the second bearing and configured to detect the torque of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peng Zhang, Uwe Schoch
  • Patent number: 11608886
    Abstract: A selector unit includes a protruding portion and a dial member. The dial member is configured to be displaced between an initial position and a depressed position along an axial direction of the protruding portion, and to be rotationally operable in a circumferential direction when depressed to the depressed position. An offset angle at a rearward side when the dial member is at the initial position is greater than the offset angle at a forward side when the dial member is at the depressed position. The offset angle means an angle between an extended line obtained by extending an upper face of the protruding portion outwards in a radial direction and a tangential line in contact with both the upper face of the protruding portion and an upper face of the dial member, in a section including a rotation axis of the dial member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Haruhisa Tokunaga, Junya Ono, Naofumi Ota
  • Patent number: 11603926
    Abstract: A gear seeking shifter having a housing containing a shift lever with a depressible inner push rod. A CAM component is rotatably supported to a base of the shift lever and is driven by a gear seeking motor. An upwardly biased gate pawl is secured to the inner push rod into contact with any of a PRND shifter position gates configured along an opposing underside of said housing. At least one detent pawl is supported within the housing in biasing contact with a detent plate configured upon an opposing inside surface of the housing. The CAM component, upon being rotated by the motor, includes each of a first profile for retracting the gate pawl and a second profile for engaging and inwardly displacing the detent pawl away from contact with the detent plate to permit the CAM component to rotate the shift lever to a desired gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Soave, Calogero Alu
  • Patent number: 11603913
    Abstract: A lead screw device includes: a lead screw; and a motor that rotates the lead screw, wherein the motor includes: a hollow shaft fitted onto a part of an outer circumference of the lead screw; and a rotor core fitted onto a part of the outer circumference of the hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHINANO KENSHI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Donghui Wang
  • Patent number: 11602856
    Abstract: A vacuum transfer device includes: a main body including an arm unit with an internal mechanical part therein and a vacuum seal, and configured to transfer a high temperature substrate in a vacuum; a substrate holder connected to the main body to hold the substrate; a heat transport member provided on a surface of the main body and made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of a material constituting the main body in a creeping direction to transport heat transferred from the substrate to the substrate holder; and a heat radiator configured to dissipate heat transported by the heat transport member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tatsuo Hatano, Naoki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11597103
    Abstract: A robot includes a movable unit displaced in horizontal directions and having a recessed part opening upward in a vertical direction, a connector placed within the recessed part, and a drain part that communicates between a bottom portion of the recessed part and an outside of the movable unit and drains a liquid within the recessed part out of the recessed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventors: Daisuke Komatsu, Toshio Tanaka, Kotaro Sekine
  • Patent number: 11597098
    Abstract: An assistive robot system includes a lifting mechanism, a movable arm assembly, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The processing device transmits a command to the lifting mechanism to cause the lifting mechanism to move the movable arm assembly such that a container is gripped within the movable arm assembly, transmits a first one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system longitudinal direction such that the movable arm assembly grips the container. The movable arm assembly is positioned at a release location and transmits a second one or more signals to the movable arm assembly to cause the movable arm assembly to extend in a system lateral direction such that the container gripped within the movable arm assembly is released from the movable arm assembly at the release location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Aimee S. Goncalves, Christopher Gidwell, Joseph Bondaryk, Paul W. Baim, Toffee Albina
  • Patent number: 11597102
    Abstract: A robot arm comprising a first arm segment and a second arm segment coupled to each other by a first revolute joint having a first rotation axis and a second revolute joint having a second rotation axis non-parallel to the first rotation axis, and a joint mechanism for articulating the first arm segment relative to the second arm segment about the first and second rotation axes, the joint mechanism comprising: a first driven gear disposed about an axle coincident with the first rotation axis, the axle being fast with a first arm segment of the robot arm; a second driven gear disposed about the second rotation axis and fast with a second arm segment of the robot arm and fast with the first driven gear about the first rotation axis; a first drive gear configured to drive the first driven gear to rotate about the axle, the first drive gear being arranged to engage the first driven gear; a second drive gear for driving the second driven gear to rotate about the second rotation axis; and an intermediary gear arran
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CMR Surgical Limited
    Inventors: James Oliver Grant, Keith Marshall, Thomas Bates Jackson
  • Patent number: 11598397
    Abstract: A continuously variable gear is described having an input shaft, a plurality of traction balls distributed radially around the axis, each traction ball is mounted on an axle passing there through, the axles are tiltable in the radial grooves in the housing and support plate. To control the position of the traction balls, the axles are guided in curved slots of a turnable iris plate. To control the axial placement of the traction balls, there is a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the traction balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the traction balls opposite the input disc, and a pre-spanning ring around the traction balls such that each of the traction balls is making three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the pre-spanning ring, the contact surface of the pre-spanning ring having a specific curvature larger than the radius of the traction balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventor: Anders Kolstrup
  • Patent number: 11598402
    Abstract: A device for transmission of rotary motion and transfer of a fluid medium, comprising a planetary gear train for transmission of rotary motion about a main axis which has at least one reduction stage which is provided with a sun gear, which rotates about the main axis, and a toothed ring gear which are mutually concentric and between which at least two planetary gears are engaged which are supported in rotation at least about the respective longitudinal axes which are parallel to the main axis by a planetary gear carrier; such planetary gear train is provided with a driving input sun gear and with an output ring gear and with an output planetary gear carrier, of which one can move in rotation about the main axis with respect to the other; and a rotary joint which extends externally to the planetary gear train for transfer of the fluid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Motion Systems Italia S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fabio Beccari