Patents by Inventor Eric Preston Lien SUAN
Eric Preston Lien SUAN 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).
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Publication number: 20230353083Abstract: An actuator assembly system array. The actuator assembly system array comprises a plurality of separate actuator assembly systems arranged in a row, with each actuator assembly system of the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems comprising: an array of one or more solar panels; a plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies; and a plurality of posts respectively coupled to and extending from the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies. The actuator assembly system array further includes a fluidic control system comprising a plurality of fluid lines extending between and fluidically coupling the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Leila Marcia MADRONE, Kyle Douglas BETTS, Peter Sturt LYNN, Louis Hong BASEL, Brent RIDLEY, Saul Thomas GRIFFITH, James Dylan MCBRIDE, Jeffrey LAMB, Eric Preston Lien SUAN, Erica LIN, Joshua ERICKSON, Vincent Domenic ROMANIN
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Patent number: 11791764Abstract: An actuator assembly that includes an angled bottom plate having an opposing first side face and second side face; a first set of one or more inflatable actuators engaging the first side face of the angled bottom plate; and a second set of one or more inflatable actuators engaging the second side face of the angled bottom plate. The first and second sets of inflatable actuators are configured to be separately fluidically inflated.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Leila Marcia Madrone, Kyle Douglas Betts, Peter Sturt Lynn, Louis Hong Basel, Brent Ridley, Saul Thomas Griffith, James Dylan Mcbride, Jeffrey Lamb, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Erica Lin, Joshua Erickson, Vincent Domenic Romanin
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Publication number: 20230299711Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising a solar tracker. The solar tracker includes one or more solar panels and a first dampening assembly comprising a dampener that provides dampening of rotation of the one or more solar panels to provide for dampening of the solar tracker and the one or more solar panels, the dampener reducing undesirable oscillations of the one or more solar panels of the solar tracker.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Victoria Macomber, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Matthew N Schneider, Christopher Oestreich, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Louis Hong Basel, Saul Thomas Griffith, Peter Aumann, Kyle Allen Lamson, Jonah Sternthal, Eleanor Blair, Nicholas Andrew Catalan, Amando Luke Miller
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Patent number: 11683003Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising one or more tracker rotation control systems that include: a curved gear plate; and a locking element configured to lock the solar tracker system in a first configuration.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Victoria Macomber, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Matthew N Schneider, Christopher Oestreich, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Louis Hong Basel, Saul Thomas Griffith, Peter Aumann, Kyle Allen Lamson, Jonah Sternthal, Eleanor Blair, Nicholas Andrew Catalan, Amando Luke Miller
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Patent number: 11588433Abstract: A method of coupling solar panels to one or more rails via one or more module clamps to form at least a portion of a solar assembly. The method can include positioning a first and second solar panel on at least a first rail, the first and second solar panels being positioned adjacent and defining a slot between the first and second solar panels. The method can further include positioning a module clamp between the first and second solar panels in the slot between the first and second solar panels, the module clamp engaging the first and second solar panels and the first rail. The module clamp can include a bolt and a clamp head.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Sunfolding, Inc.Inventors: Eric Preston Lien Suan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb
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Publication number: 20210399679Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising one or more tracker rotation control systems that include: a curved gear plate; and a locking element configured to lock the solar tracker system in a first configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Victoria Macomber, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Matthew N Schneider, Christopher Oestreich, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Louis Hong Basel, Saul Thomas Griffith, Peter Aumann, Kyle Allen Lamson, Jonah Sternthal, Eleanor Blair, Nicholas Andrew Catalan, Amando Luke Miller
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Publication number: 20210226578Abstract: A fluidic actuator including an angled bottom plate having a cap and first and second plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the cap. The fluidic actuator further includes a top plate coupled about the cap of the angled bottom plate and a rotatable coupling of the angled bottom plate and top plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Kyle Douglass Betts, Alex Tan Kwan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Erica S. C. Lin, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Matthew N Schneider, Youngjoo Shin, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Publication number: 20210175841Abstract: A solar tracker system having one or more solar trackers that each include one or more panels and one or more actuators coupled to the one or more panels, the one or more actuators having a first and second vessel; and an electronic control unit configured to inflate the first vessel with fluid from a fluid source and configured to separately inflate the second vessel with fluid from the fluid source. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a stow event is present based on a first set of environmental data obtained from an environmental sensor that indicates environmental conditions pose a threat to the one or more solar trackers, and in response to determining that the stow event is present, actuate the one or more panels toward a stow configuration target angle by at least inflating the first or second vessels with fluid from the fluid source.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Kyle Douglass Betts, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N. Schneider, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Patent number: 10951159Abstract: A pneumatic control unit configured to inflate a first and second set of bellows with fluid from a pneumatic fluid source via a pneumatic circuit, the first and second set of bellows associated with one or more pneumatic actuators. The pneumatic control unit determines a target configuration of the actuators based on a determined current position of the sun; determines a current configuration of the actuators; determines a difference between the determined current configuration and target configuration of the actuators; determines that the difference between current configuration and the target configuration of the actuators is outside of a tolerance range; and actuates the actuators toward the determined target configuration by at least one of inflating the first or second set of bellows with fluid from the pneumatic fluid source via the pneumatic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Kyle Douglass Betts, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N Schneider, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Patent number: 10917038Abstract: An actuator that includes a bottom plate, a top-plate, and a first and second hub assembly extending between the bottom and top plates. The actuator can further include a first and second bellows disposed on opposing sides of the hub assemblies, the first and second bellows each extending between and coupled to the top plate and bottom plate. The actuator can also include a plurality of washers disposed between the top and bottom plates, with each of the washers coupled to the first and second hub assembly, a first set of the plurality of washers surrounding the first bellows and a second set of the plurality of washers surrounding the second bellows.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Kyle Douglass Betts, Alex Tan Kwan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Erica S. C. Lin, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Matthew N Schneider, Youngjoo Shin, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Publication number: 20200304057Abstract: A method of coupling solar panels to one or more rails via one or more module clamps to form at least a portion of a solar assembly. The method can include positioning a first and second solar panel on at least a first rail, the first and second solar panels being positioned adjacent and defining a slot between the first and second solar panels. The method can further include positioning a module clamp between the first and second solar panels in the slot between the first and second solar panels, the module clamp engaging the first and second solar panels and the first rail. The module clamp can include a bolt and a clamp head.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Eric Preston Lien Suan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb
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Publication number: 20200220492Abstract: An actuator assembly that includes an angled bottom plate having an opposing first side face and second side face; a first set of one or more inflatable actuators engaging the first side face of the angled bottom plate; and a second set of one or more inflatable actuators engaging the second side face of the angled bottom plate. The first and second sets of inflatable actuators are configured to be separately fluidically inflated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Leila Marcia MADRONE, Kyle Douglas BETTS, Peter Sturt LYNN, Louis Hong BASEL, Brent RIDLEY, Saul Thomas GRIFFITH, James Dylan MCBRIDE, Jeffrey LAMB, Eric Preston Lien SUAN, Erica LIN, Joshua ERICKSON, Vincent Domenic ROMANIN
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Patent number: 10601366Abstract: A pneumatically actuated solar panel array system that includes a plurality of separate actuator assemblies that each have a top plate and bottom plate and a first and second bellows that each extend between and are coupled to the top and bottom plates at a respective top head and bottom head, the first and second bellows being configured to be separately pneumatically inflated, where the pneumatic inflation expands the bellows along a length. The pneumatically actuated solar panel array system can also include a plurality of solar panels coupled to the actuator assemblies with the solar panels being configured to be actuated based on inflation of one or more bellows associated with the plurality of actuator assembles.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Leila Marcia Madrone, Kyle Douglas Betts, Peter Sturt Lynn, Louis Hong Basel, Brent Ridley, Saul Thomas Griffith, James Dylan McBride, Jeffrey Lamb, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Erica Lin, Joshua Erickson, Vincent Domenic Romanin
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Publication number: 20190020303Abstract: A pneumatically actuated solar panel array system that includes a plurality of separate actuator assemblies that each have a top plate and bottom plate and a first and second bellows that each extend between and are coupled to the top and bottom plates at a respective top head and bottom head, the first and second bellows being configured to be separately pneumatically inflated, where the pneumatic inflation expands the bellows along a length. The pneumatically actuated solar panel array system can also include a plurality of solar panels coupled to the actuator assemblies with the solar panels being configured to be actuated based on inflation of one or more bellows associated with the plurality of actuator assembles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Leila Marcia MADRONE, Kyle Douglas BETTS, Peter Sturt LYNN, Louis Hong BASEL, Brent RIDLEY, Saul Thomas GRIFFITH, James Dylan MCBRIDE, Jeffrey LAMB, Eric Preston Lien SUAN, Erica LIN, Joshua ERICKSON, Vincent Domenic ROMANIN
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Patent number: 10135388Abstract: A pneumatically actuated solar panel array system that includes a plurality of separate actuator assemblies that each have a top plate and bottom plate and a first and second bellows that each extend between and are coupled to the top and bottom plates at a respective top head and bottom head, the first and second bellows being configured to be separately pneumatically inflated, where the pneumatic inflation expands the bellows along a length. The pneumatically actuated solar panel array system can also include a plurality of solar panels coupled to the actuator assemblies with the solar panels being configured to be actuated based on inflation of one or more bellows associated with the plurality of actuator assembles.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Leila Marcia Madrone, Kyle Douglas Betts, Peter Sturt Lynn, Louis Hong Basel, Brent Ridley, Saul Thomas Griffith, James Dylan McBride, Jeffrey Lamb, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Erica Lin, Joshua Erickson, Vincent Domenic Romanin
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Publication number: 20180302027Abstract: A pneumatic control unit configured to inflate a first and second set of bellows with fluid from a pneumatic fluid source via a pneumatic circuit, the first and second set of bellows associated with one or more pneumatic actuators. The pneumatic control unit determines a target configuration of the actuators based on a determined current position of the sun; determines a current configuration of the actuators; determines a difference between the determined current configuration and target configuration of the actuators; determines that the difference between current configuration and the target configuration of the actuators is outside of a tolerance range; and actuates the actuators toward the determined target configuration by at least one of inflating the first or second set of bellows with fluid from the pneumatic fluid source via the pneumatic circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Kyle Douglass Betts, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N. Schneider, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Publication number: 20180302025Abstract: An actuator that includes a bottom plate, a top-plate, and a first and second hub assembly extending between the bottom and top plates. The actuator can further include a first and second bellows disposed on opposing sides of the hub assemblies, the first and second bellows each extending between and coupled to the top plate and bottom plate. The actuator can also include a plurality of washers disposed between the top and bottom plates, with each of the washers coupled to the first and second hub assembly, a first set of the plurality of washers surrounding the first bellows and a second set of the plurality of washers surrounding the second bellows.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Kyle Douglass Betts, Alex Tan Kwan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Erica S. C. Lin, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Matthew N Schneider, Youngjoo Shin, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Publication number: 20160261224Abstract: A pneumatically actuated solar panel array system that includes a plurality of separate actuator assemblies that each have a top plate and bottom plate and a first and second bellows that each extend between and are coupled to the top and bottom plates at a respective top head and bottom head, the first and second bellows being configured to be separately pneumatically inflated, where the pneumatic inflation expands the bellows along a length. The pneumatically actuated solar panel array system can also include a plurality of solar panels coupled to the actuator assemblies with the solar panels being configured to be actuated based on inflation of one or more bellows associated with the plurality of actuator assembles.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Leila Marcia MADRONE, Kyle Douglas BETTS, Peter Sturt LYNN, Louis Hong BASEL, Brent RIDLEY, Saul Thomas GRIFFITH, James Dylan MCBRIDE, Jeffrey LAMB, Eric Preston Lien SUAN, Erica LIN, Joshua ERICKSON, Vincent Domenic ROMANIN