Patents by Inventor Erik Roby

Erik Roby 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: 11740697
    Abstract: The disclosed flexible vibrotactile devices may include a dielectric support material, at least one flexible electroactive element coupled to the dielectric support material, a first conductive electrode material, and a second conductive electrode material. The dielectric support material may include at least one hole therethrough for securing the flexible vibrotactile device to a textile by threading at least one fiber through the at least one hole. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniele Piazza, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Charles Stewart, David R. Perek, Adam Ahne, Slava Karulin, Erik Roby
  • Patent number: 11235326
    Abstract: The disclosed method of manufacturing may include positioning a membrane on top of a channeled layer where the channeled layer includes a shim portion that is dimensioned to limit the amount of compression appliable to the membrane. The membrane may be positioned at a juncture in the channeled layer. The method may next include positioning a transmission housing layer membrane and the channeled layer. The method may also include fastening the channeled layer, the membrane, and the transmission housing layer together. The channeled layer, the membrane, and the transmission housing layer may be held together with at least one fastening member. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Roby, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Nicholas Roy Corson, Katherine Healy, Robert Manson, Jack Lindsay
  • Patent number: 11231055
    Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a first fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive a fluidic input and provide a first stage fluidic output, and a second fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive the first stage fluidic output and provide a second stage fluidic output. The first fluidic amplifier stage may include a fluidic valve, for example having a source, a gate, and a drain. The fluidic input may be connected to the gate of the fluidic valve through a fluid channel, and a fluid flow between the source and the drain of the fluidic valve may be controlled by the fluidic input. An example device may be configured to provide a fluidic output, wherein the fluidic output is based on the fluidic input, and the fluidic output may be provided to a fluidic load such as an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Jack Lindsay, Casey Glick, Erik Roby
  • Patent number: 11143218
    Abstract: A fluidic logic-gate device may include inlet ports, input ports, an output port, fluid channels each configured to route fluid from one of the inlet ports to the output port, and pistons that each include (1) a restricting gate transmission element configured to block, when the piston is in a first blocking position and unblock, when the piston is in a second blocking position, one of fluid channels, (2) a first controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with a first control pressure that, when applied to the first controlling gate transmission element, forces the piston towards the first blocking position, and (3) a second controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with a second control pressure that, when applied to the second controlling gate transmission element, forces the piston towards the second blocking position. Various other related devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Casey Glick, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Erik Roby
  • Patent number: 11131331
    Abstract: A fluidic device may include inlet ports, control input ports, one or more output channels, inlet channels that are each configured to convey fluid from one of the inlet ports to one of the one or more output channels, and pistons. In some examples, each piston may include (1) a restricting gate transmission element configured to inhibit, when the piston is in a first position, and uninhibit, when the piston is in a second position, one of the inlet channels, (2) a control gate configured to interface with a first control pressure that, when applied to the control gate, forces the piston towards the first position, and (3) an additional control gate configured to interface with a second control pressure that, when applied to the additional control gate, forces the piston towards the second position. Various other related devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Stanley, Erik Roby, Casey Glick
  • Patent number: 11125255
    Abstract: A fluidic device may include inlet ports, input ports, one or more output ports, fluid channels each configured to route fluid from one of the inlet ports to one of the one or more output ports, and pistons. In some examples, each piston may include (1) a restricting gate transmission element configured to block, when the piston is in a first position, and unblock, when the piston is in a second position, one of the fluid channels, (2) a controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with a first control pressure that, when applied to the controlling gate transmission element, forces the piston towards the first position, and (3) an additional controlling gate transmission element configured to interface with a second control pressure that, when applied to the additional controlling gate transmission element, forces the piston towards the second position. Various other related devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Stanley, Erik Roby, Casey Glick
  • Patent number: 10962124
    Abstract: A fluidic latch device may include an input port, an additional input port, an output port, an additional output port, a pressure chamber, an additional pressure chamber, and a flexible membrane. The pressure chamber may include an inlet coupled to the input port by a first fluid channel and an outlet coupled to the output port by a second fluid channel, and the additional pressure chamber may include an additional inlet coupled to the additional input port by a third fluid channel and an additional outlet coupled to the additional output port by a fourth fluid channel. The flexible membrane may separate the pressure chamber and the additional pressure chamber and be configured to (1) block, when the membrane is in an expanded state, the outlet of the pressure chamber and (2) block, when the membrane is in an additional expanded state, the additional outlet of the additional pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Stanley, Erik Roby
  • Publication number: 20210010495
    Abstract: A fluidic device may include inlet ports, control input ports, one or more output channels, inlet channels that are each configured to convey fluid from one of the inlet ports to one of the one or more output channels, and pistons. In some examples, each piston may include (1) a restricting gate transmission element configured to inhibit, when the piston is in a first position, and uninhibit, when the piston is in a second position, one of the inlet channels, (2) a control gate configured to interface with a first control pressure that, when applied to the control gate, forces the piston towards the first position, and (3) an additional control gate configured to interface with a second control pressure that, when applied to the additional control gate, forces the piston towards the second position. Various other related devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Stanley, Erik Roby, Casey Glick
  • Patent number: 10301136
    Abstract: In an example, a roller lock may include a lock to engage with a roller of a feed system, and a leadscrew to engage with the lock. The lock may include a coupling to operably engage with a complementary coupling of the roller. The leadscrew may include an advancer to engage with the lock such that the advancer may translate the lock along a longitudinal axis of the roller so that the lock may engage and disengage with the roller to intermittently prevent the roller from rotating in a forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Keith Jariabka, Erik Roby
  • Publication number: 20180273331
    Abstract: In an example, a roller lock may include a lock to engage with a roller of a feed system, and a leadscrew to engage with the lock. The lock may include a coupling to operably engage with a complementary coupling of the roller. The leadscrew may include an advancer to engage with the lock such that the advancer may translate the lock along a longitudinal axis of the roller so that the lock may engage and disengage with the roller to intermittently prevent the roller from rotating in a forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Keith Jariabka, Erik Roby