Patents by Inventor Eric John MICA

Eric John MICA 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).

  • Semi-passive control system and method for assistive orthoses
    Patent number: 10729610
    Abstract: Semi-passive control system (10) comprises a pneumatic spring actuator (16), a pressure regulator (22) in communication with the pneumatic spring actuator (16), a hydraulic locking actuator (18), a hydraulic valve (20) in communication with actuator (18), a power source (14), a pulley wheel (42), and a cable (46) having a first end in contact with pulley wheel (42), first and second side portions (50, 56) extending from opposing sides of pulley wheel (42), and a second end adapted to connect to an orthosis device (76). At least one cable clamp (62) attaches to second side portion (56) of cable (46) and interconnects cable (46) to shafts (112b, 118b) of actuators (16, 18). A central control unit (12) includes a processor (13a) and a computer readable storage medium (13b) having program instructions stored thereon for execution by the central control unit to adjust stiffness, damping or stiffness and damping parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Robert Peter Matthew, Eric John Mica, Waiman Meinhold, Joel Alfredo Loeza, Ruzena Bajcsy, Masayoshi Tomizuka
  • SEMI-PASSIVE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSISTIVE ORTHOSES
    Publication number: 20180036194
    Abstract: Semi-passive control system (10) comprises a pneumatic spring actuator (16), a pressure regulator (22) in communication with the pneumatic spring actuator (16), a hydraulic locking actuator (18), a hydraulic valve (20) in communication with actuator (18), a power source (14), a pulley wheel (42), and a cable (46) having a first end in contact with pulley wheel (42), first and second side portions (50, 56) extending from opposing sides of pulley wheel (42), and a second end adapted to connect to an orthosis device (76). At least one cable clamp (62) attaches to second side portion (56) of cable (46) and interconnects cable (46) to shafts (112b, 118b) of actuators (16, 18). A central control unit (12) includes a processor (13a) and a computer readable storage medium (13b) having program instructions stored thereon for execution by the central control unit to adjust stiffness, damping or stiffness and damping parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Peter Matthew, Eric John MICA, Waiman MEINHOLD, Joel Alfredo LOEZA, Ruzena BAJCSY, Masayoshi TOMIZUKA