Patents by Inventor Amos G Winter

Amos G Winter 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).

  • Patent number: 11884348
    Abstract: A balance board coupled to a two-wheeled vehicle to provide a moving platform that an operator of the vehicle can use to stabilize the vehicle. The balance board includes a coupling mechanism, a frame, one or more moving elements, and one or more foot support pedals. In one example, the balance board is mechanically passive such that the balance board maintains contact with the ground surface without an externally applied force (e.g., by the operator/user of the vehicle). In one aspect, the balance board may be rotatable about multiple rotational degrees of freedom to allow the balance board to steer as the vehicle turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, Guillermo Fabian Diaz Lankenau, Lea Daigle, Patrick Tornes, Eric Koch, Samuel Ihns, Jana Saadi, Jessica Wu
  • Publication number: 20230241554
    Abstract: An electrodialysis desalination device includes a first electrode including a first-stage side; a second electrode including a first-stage side; and a first stage between the first-stage side of the first electrode and the first-stage side of the second electrode. The first stage includes at least one first-stage cell pair positioned between the first-stage side of the first electrode and the first-stage side of the second electrode, and each cell pair includes a pair of first-stage selectively permeable ion-exchange membranes with alternating selectivity that define first-stage channels on opposite sides of each first-stage membrane for respective flows of a first-stage diluate stream and a first-stage concentrate stream. A single pump is configured to pump the diluate streams and the concentrate streams through the first stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Hannah M. Varner, Amos G. Winter, Sahil Rajesh Shah, Soraya Honarparvar
  • Patent number: 11607325
    Abstract: A passive prosthetic foot enables a below-knee amputee to walk with near able-body walking motions. The prosthetic foot includes a resilient heel that enables the heel to strike a walking surface more softly than in the prior art and more accurately transition the leg from swing phase to stance phase. The prosthetic foot is modeled generally as a wide Bézier curve, and the foot is characterized according to a set of at least 12 variables, including h, C1d, C2x, C2y, C2d, C3x, C3y, C3d, C4x, C4d, C5d and C6d, where C3y is heel size, C4x is heel geometry and C6d is curve intersection location. The variables are optimized to minimize a difference between a normal lower leg trajectory during gait and a modeled trajectory that includes the prosthetic foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, V, Victor Prost
  • Publication number: 20220401883
    Abstract: A control system includes one or more levels of control of power and energy. At one level, a first controller optimally divides power between two or more processes, to maximize instantaneous production, for a given amount of currently available power. In the case of EDR desalination, electric power is optimally divided between ion exchange membranes and pumps to maximize instantaneous production of desalinated water for a given amount of available electric power. Optionally, at another level, a second controller divides time-varying power between the processes fed by the first level controller and an energy storage unit, based on a prediction of future power availability and a function. In the EDR case, power generated by a photovoltaic array is divided between the EDR desalination process and a battery, based on a prediction of future PV power availability and a function, to ensure reliable water production in the future.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Anne-Claire Elisabeth Marie Le Henaff, Wei He, Grace Connors, Simone Gelmini, Amos G. Winter, Jeffrey Dennis Costello, Ian Marius Peters, Kameron Conforti
  • Patent number: 11497627
    Abstract: A high performance, low-cost passive prosthetic knee includes one or more modules to enable able-bodied gait by transfemoral amputees to improve metabolic efficiency and reduce stigma from conspicuous abnormal gaits. A stance stability module includes a latch with a virtual lock axis that automatically locks and unlocks. An early stance flexion module enables able-bodied gait during stance. Hydraulic fluid dampers ensure reliable swing phase control. A swing extension energy storage module stores and returns energy as the knee locks and unlocks, respectively. These modules may be used together, in any combination, or individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS NSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Venkata N. M. Arelekatti, Amos G. Winter, V, Jason Z. Fischman, Athena Yeh Huang, Youngjun Joh
  • Publication number: 20220250700
    Abstract: A balance board coupled to a two-wheeled vehicle to provide a moving platform that an operator of the vehicle can use to stabilize the vehicle. The balance board includes a coupling mechanism, a frame, one or more moving elements, and one or more foot support pedals. In one example, the balance board is mechanically passive such that the balance board maintains contact with the ground surface without an externally applied force (e.g., by the operator/user of the vehicle). In one aspect, the balance board may be rotatable about multiple rotational degrees of freedom to allow the balance board to steer as the vehicle turns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, Guillermo Diaz Lankenau, Lea Daigle, Patrick Tornes, Eric Koch, Samuel Ihns, Jana Saadi, Jessica Wu
  • Patent number: 11324611
    Abstract: A prosthesis, including a prosthetic foot, a prosthetic talocrural joint, a prosthetic ankle pivotally coupled to the prosthetic foot and a four-area bending beam. The four-area bending beam includes a U-shaped or other spring. One end of the spring is mechanically coupled via two of the four areas to the prosthetic foot. The other end of the spring is mechanically coupled via the other two areas to the prosthetic ankle. The spring resiliently resists pivoting of the prosthetic ankle about the prosthetic talocrural joint. The four-area bending beam exhibits an at least approximately constant moment along its length to maximize strain energy density, storing about four times as much elastic energy as a comparable cantilevered beam, thereby providing high stiffness and high range of motion to the ankle. The spring is modular, being easily replaced with another spring exhibiting a different stiffness, ex., to tailor the prosthesis to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Victor Prost, Amos G. Winter, Kathryn Michelle Olesnavage
  • Publication number: 20210338127
    Abstract: A probe assembly comprising: an electrode-based probe comprising a probe head and one or more slender electrodes extending from the probe head for insertion into biological tissue; and a support element disposed around one or more of said electrodes, distal from the probe head, the support element comprising one or more apertures through which said one or more electrodes pass, the probe head and said electrode(s) being movable relative to the support element during insertion; wherein the support element is configured to constrain the angle of the end of the said electrode(s) at the point of insertion into the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew L. CAVUTO, Timothy CONSTANDINOU, Amos G. WINTER
  • Patent number: 10926224
    Abstract: A spiral-wound electrodialysis module includes an inner electrode positioned about a central axis and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. Ion exchange membranes are arranged in a stack, and each membrane extends in a spiral outward from an inner position proximate the inner electrode to an outer position proximate the outer electrode. The spirals expand outward at a greater-than-linear rate as a function of angle along a length of the spiral from the inner positions to the outer positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, Natasha Catherine Wright
  • Publication number: 20200375763
    Abstract: A passive prosthetic foot enables a below-knee amputee to walk with near able-body walking motions. The prosthetic foot includes a resilient heel that enables the heel to strike a walking surface more softly than in the prior art and more accurately transition the leg from swing phase to stance phase. The prosthetic foot is modeled generally as a wide Bézier curve, and the foot is characterized according to a set of at least 12 variables, including h, C1d, C2x, C2y, C2d, C3x, C3y, C3d, C4x, C4d, C5d and C6d, where C3y is heel size, C4x is heel geometry and C6d is curve intersection location. The variables are optimized to minimize a difference between a normal lower leg trajectory during gait and a modeled trajectory that includes the prosthetic foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, V, Victor Prost
  • Patent number: 10761545
    Abstract: A passive, self-regulating valve includes a static pressure chamber and an elastically collapsible tube supported within the static pressure chamber. The elastically collapsible tube is defined by a geometry that determines an activation pressure of the valve. The passive, self-regulating valve also includes a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the elastically collapsible tube inside the static pressure chamber, as well as piping connecting a source of pressurized liquid both to the flow restrictor and to an opening into the static pressure chamber. The piping enables the flow restrictor to control flow rate of the pressurized liquid through the valve independent of the activation pressure of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the flow restrictor is a needle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd
    Inventors: Ruo-Qian Wang, Amos G. Winter, Abhijit Bhaskar Joshi, Pawel Jerzy Zimoch
  • Publication number: 20200188138
    Abstract: A high performance, low-cost passive prosthetic knee includes one or more modules to enable able-bodied gait by transfemoral amputees to improve metabolic efficiency and reduce stigma from conspicuous abnormal gaits. A stance stability module includes a latch with a virtual lock axis that automatically locks and unlocks. An early stance flexion module enables able-bodied gait during stance. Hydraulic fluid dampers ensure reliable swing phase control. A swing extension energy storage module stores and returns energy as the knee locks and unlocks, respectively. These modules may be used together, in any combination, or individually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Venkata N.M. Arelekatti, Amos G. Winter, V, Jason Z. Fischman, Athena Yeh Huang, Youngjun Joh
  • Patent number: 10570032
    Abstract: Described are improved electrodialysis (ED) desalination systems and methods comprising voltage regulation and/or improved stack geometries. The systems and methods provide product water concentrations suitable for drinking (having a total dissolved solids concentration of less than 500 mg/L or 500 ppm) and have a high product recovery ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sahil Rajesh Shah, Amos G. Winter, V, Natasha C. Wright
  • Publication number: 20190350729
    Abstract: A prosthesis, including a prosthetic foot, a prosthetic talocrural joint, a prosthetic ankle pivotally coupled to the prosthetic foot and a four-area bending beam. The four-area bending beam includes a U-shaped or other spring. One end of the spring is mechanically coupled via two of the four areas to the prosthetic foot. The other end of the spring is mechanically coupled via the other two areas to the prosthetic ankle. The spring resiliently resists pivoting of the prosthetic ankle about the prosthetic talocrural joint. The four-area bending beam exhibits an at least approximately constant moment along its length to maximize strain energy density, storing about four times as much elastic energy as a comparable cantilevered beam, thereby providing high stiffness and high range of motion to the ankle. The spring is modular, being easily replaced with another spring exhibiting a different stiffness, ex., to tailor the prosthesis to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Victor Prost, Amos G. Winter, Kathryn Michelle Olesnavage
  • Publication number: 20190332128
    Abstract: A passive, self-regulating valve includes a static pressure chamber and an elastically collapsible tube supported within the static pressure chamber. The elastically collapsible tube is defined by a geometry that determines an activation pressure of the valve. The passive, self-regulating valve also includes a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the elastically collapsible tube inside the static pressure chamber, as well as piping connecting a source of pressurized liquid both to the flow restrictor and to an opening into the static pressure chamber. The piping enables the flow restrictor to control flow rate of the pressurized liquid through the valve independent of the activation pressure of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the flow restrictor is a needle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ruo-Qian Wang, Amos G. Winter, Abhijit Bhaskar Joshi, Pawel Jerzy Zimoch
  • Patent number: 10426104
    Abstract: Pressure-compensating emitter. The emitter includes an inlet connected to a source of pressurized water and an orifice in fluid communication with the inlet and extending into a channel including a raised land surrounding an outlet. A compliant membrane is positioned above the land in the chamber wherein pressurized water will cause the membrane to deform into contact with the land to alter flow through the outlet so as to provide a constant flow rate. Parameters of the emitter are selected so that the emitter has a large operating range and an activation pressure of 0.15 bar or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Pulkit Shamshery, Amos G. Winter
  • Patent number: 10405997
    Abstract: A passive artificial knee includes a knee hinge assembly defining a knee axis, a locking hinge assembly defining a locking axis, and a post linking the knee hinge assembly and the locking hinge assembly. A ground reaction force applied to the artificial knee posterior to the locking axis causes an interfering relation by compression of the locking hinge assembly and the knee hinge assembly during heel strike at early-stance gait phase of an individual wearing the artificial knee, thereby locking rotation of the post about the knee axis. Shifting of ground reaction force anterior to the locking axis during a mid-stance to late-stance gait phase of the individual causes rotation of the post about the locking axis, thereby unlocking rotation of the post about the knee axis and enabling flexion and subsequent swing phase extension of the passive artificial knee joint. The artificial knee is a passive joint that can be fabricated and maintained at low expense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Venkata Narayana Murthy Arelekatti, Amos G. Winter, Daniel Scott Dorsch
  • Patent number: 10343691
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a drive shaft, a transmission, a motor shaft, and an engine shaft. The drive shaft includes several drive gears and is used to transmit power to a wheel of a vehicle. The transmission includes a first transmission subassembly and a second transmission subassembly, each subassembly having a transmission shaft, an input gear, and several output gears. Each transmission shaft includes a shifting element to select an output gear. Each transmission subassembly transmits power to the drive shaft when the shifting element of each respective subassembly is engaged. The motor shaft is coupled to a motor and is also directly coupled to the first transmission subassembly via a first motor gear. The motor shaft is also coupled to the engine shaft via a second motor gear. The engine shaft includes several engine gears to couple the engine shaft to the first and second transmission subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Victor Prost, Sahil Rajesh Shah, Zackary Ryan Eubanks, Daria Bondarchuk, Paige L. Reiter, Yu Hua, Daniel Scott Dorsch, Amos G. Winter
  • Patent number: 10315659
    Abstract: An apparatus for a clutchless manual transmission includes a transmission, a drive shaft, and a motor shaft. The transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and an intermediate gear. The input shaft is coupled to an engine shaft to receive power and the output shaft is coupled to the drive shaft to transmit power to a wheel of a vehicle. The input shaft and output shaft are coupled by a plurality of input and output shaft gears. A first synchronizer is coupled to the output shaft to selectively engage a particular output shaft gear, adjusting the speed of the output shaft relative to the input shaft. The motor shaft receives power from a motor and includes a second synchronizer to selectively engage the engine shaft to the drive shaft via the motor shaft. The apparatus can be used to reduce acceleration and turbo lag in hybrid and high-performance vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chad L. Jacoby, Jacob M. Jurewicz, Joshua E. Siegel, Amos G. Winter, V, Young Suk Jo, Patricia Yen, Guillermo Pamanes Castillo, Daniel Scott Dorsch
  • Publication number: 20190111393
    Abstract: A spiral-wound electrodialysis module includes an inner electrode positioned about a central axis and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. Ion exchange membranes are arranged in a stack, and each membrane extends in a spiral outward from an inner position proximate the inner electrode to an outer position proximate the outer electrode. The spirals expand outward at a greater-than-linear rate as a function of angle along a length of the spiral from the inner positions to the outer positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, Natasha Catherine Wright