Patents by Inventor Colin D. Eichinger

Colin D. Eichinger 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).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230008775
    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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    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
  • Publication number: 20220163412
    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 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger, Nathan Grimes, Nathan C. Briggs
  • Publication number: 20220034692
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include compliant sensors having a signal electrode layer of an elastomeric material with conducting material confined to at least one sensor region, at least one trace connected to the at least one sensor, and a perimeter electrode region. The compliant sensors also include a dielectric layer including an elastomeric material having a first side in contact with the signal electrode layer and configured to allow electrical contact to the perimeter electrode region and a top electrode layer including an elastomeric material with conducting material integrated within and in contact with a second side of the dielectric layer and in electrical contact with the perimeter electrode region. In some embodiments, the top electrode layer includes a portion of electrically conducting material configured in a hatched pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: COLTON A. OTTLEY, JARED K. JONAS, COLIN D. EICHINGER, NATHAN GRIMES, NATHAN C. BRIGGS
  • Publication number: 20210102797
    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: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Colton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger