Patents by Inventor Donald Spaeth

Donald Spaeth 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).

  • Variable compliance joystick with compensation algorithms
    Patent number: 8264458
    Abstract: The present invention provides variable compliance joysticks with mechanical and software customization, and with an integrated control capability, and a method of systematically determining the best mechanical settings and compensatory algorithms to embed in the joysticks to offer an individual with substantial upper extremity motor impairments a personal fit and maximum function. The joysticks may include components for varying the compliance and dampening of the joystick shaft. The method may include providing the user access to operate the joysticks, operatively connecting the joysticks to a driving simulator, displaying an icon on the driving simulator, controlling movement of the icon by the joysticks, evaluating performance of the user based upon the user's ability to control movement of the icon, and modifying hardware settings and software algorithms for the joysticks based upon the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Dept. of Veterans Affairs, The University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Rory A. Cooper, Donald Spaeth, Songfeng Guo
  • VARIABLE COMPLIANCE JOYSTICK WITH COMPENSATION ALGORITHMS
    Publication number: 20090153370
    Abstract: The present invention provides variable compliance joysticks with mechanical and software customization, and with an integrated control capability, and a method of systematically determining the best mechanical settings and compensatory algorithms to embed in the joysticks to offer an individual with substantial upper extremity motor impairments a personal fit and maximum function. The joysticks may include components for varying the compliance and dampening of the joystick shaft. The method may include providing the user access to operate the joysticks, operatively connecting the joysticks to a driving simulator, displaying an icon on the driving simulator, controlling movement of the icon by the joysticks, evaluating performance of the user based upon the user's ability to control movement of the icon, and modifying hardware settings and software algorithms for the joysticks based upon the evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: RORY A. COOPER, Donald Spaeth, Songfeng Guo
  • Variable compliance joystick with compensation algorithms
    Publication number: 20050195166
    Abstract: The present invention provides variable compliance joysticks with mechanical and software customization, and with an integrated control capability, and a method of systematically determining the best mechanical settings and compensatory algorithms to embed in the joysticks to offer an individual with substantial upper extremity motor impairments a personal fit and maximum function. The joysticks may include components for varying the compliance and dampening of the joystick shaft. The method may include providing the user access to operate the joysticks, operatively connecting the joysticks to a driving simulator, displaying an icon on the driving simulator, controlling movement of the icon by the joysticks, evaluating performance of the user based upon the user's ability to control movement of the icon, and modifying hardware settings and software algorithms for the joysticks based upon the evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Rory Cooper, Donald Spaeth, Songfeng Guo