Patents by Inventor Erik Westergaard

Erik Westergaard 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: 11939739
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (19) of operating a hydraulic arrangement (1) including a mounting base (5), a boom (3) that is pivotably arranged on the mounting base (5), and a Z-kinematics (2) that is arranged on the boom (3). The Z-kinematics (2) tilts a tool attachment device (10), that is pivotably arranged on the boom (3). The boom (3) is moved by a lifting hydraulic piston (7) that is connected to the boom (3) and to the mounting base (5). The Z-kinematics (2) is moved by at least a tilting hydraulic piston (11) that is connected to a lever of the Z-kinematics (2) and to the mounting base (5). On application of an input control command for changing the position of the lifting hydraulic piston (7), a compensation command is automatically generated and applied to the tilting hydraulic piston (11), to essentially maintain the attitude of the tool attachment device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Erik Westergaard, Henrik Hauge
  • Patent number: 11555750
    Abstract: A force transducer is disclosed, which is arranged in such a way that, when a force is applied to the force transducer, two output signals from the force transducer are generated, which output signals are representative of the force components in a first plane and in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, respectively, whereas force components in a third plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane do not affect the output signals from the force transducer. Furthermore, a measuring device is disclosed, comprising a handle comprising such a force transducer and a base unit, to which the handle is attached. Even further, a system for measuring muscle stiffness is disclosed, comprising a measuring unit and a processing unit, the measuring unit comprising such a measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: Københavns Universitet, Movotec A/S
    Inventors: Johnny Erik Westergaard, Peder Esben Bilde, Jens Bo Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11401691
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) of operating an actuator arrangement including at least two types of actuators (6, 7, 11, 12, 30, 34) effectuating different types of movement of a connected device (10, 32) to be actuated, where a change of attitude of the connected device (10, 32) has an influence on the position of at least a defined part (13, 14) of the connected device (10, 32). Different types of actuators (6, 7, 11, 12, 30, 34) are actuated in an automated way to at least partly compensate for the change of position of the defined part (13, 14) of the connected device (10, 32) when changing the attitude of the connected device (10, 32), at least for a certain range of movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventor: Erik Westergaard
  • Publication number: 20220090358
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (50) of operating an actuated arrangement (1) including a lifting boom (3), an associated lifting actuator (4), a tool attachment device (5) for attachment of a tool (7, 23), and an associated tilting actuator (6). The torque that is exerted onto the tool attachment device (5) is calculated using the attitude of the tool attachment device (5), a mass information, representing the mass that is connected to the tool attachment device (5), and a tool type information, representing the characteristics of the tool (7, 23) that is to be attached to the tool attachment device (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Birkir Oskarsson, Thomas Heegaard Langer, Erik Westergaard
  • Publication number: 20210317638
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (19) of operating a hydraulic arrangement (1) including a mounting base (5), a boom (3) that is pivotably arranged on the mounting base (5), and a Z-kinematics (2) that is arranged on the boom (3). The Z-kinematics (2) tilts a tool attachment device (10), that is pivotably arranged on the boom (3). The boom (3) is moved by a lifting hydraulic piston (7) that is connected to the boom (3) and to the mounting base (5). The Z-kinematics (2) is moved by at least a tilting hydraulic piston (11) that is connected to a lever of the Z-kinematics (2) and to the mounting base (5). On application of an input control command for changing the position of the lifting hydraulic piston (7), a compensation command is automatically generated and applied to the tilting hydraulic piston (11), to essentially maintain the attitude of the tool attachment device (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Erik Westergaard, Henrik Hauge
  • Publication number: 20210317634
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) of operating an actuator arrangement including at least two types of actuators (6, 7, 11, 12, 30, 34) effectuating different types of movement of a connected device (10, 32) to be actuated, where a change of attitude of the connected device (10, 32) has an influence on the position of at least a defined part (13, 14) of the connected device (10, 32). Different types of actuators (6, 7, 11, 12, 30, 34) are actuated in an automated way to at least partly compensate for the change of position of the defined part (13, 14) of the connected device (10, 32) when changing the attitude of the connected device (10, 32), at least for a certain range of movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventor: Erik Westergaard
  • Publication number: 20210231511
    Abstract: A force transducer is disclosed, which is arranged in such a way that, when a force is applied to the force transducer, two output signals from the force transducer are generated, which output signals are representative of the force components in a first plane and in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, respectively, whereas force components in a third plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane do not affect the output signals from the force transducer. Furthermore, a measuring device is disclosed, comprising a handle comprising such a force transducer and a base unit, to which the handle is attached. Even further, a system for measuring muscle stiffness is disclosed, comprising a measuring unit and a processing unit, the measuring unit comprising such a measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Johnny Erik Westergaard, Peder Esben BILDE, Jens Bo NIELSEN
  • Patent number: 10575772
    Abstract: A system, an apparatus, and a method for measuring muscle stiffness in a predetermined joint of an individual are provided. The system and apparatus comprises a measuring unit and a processing unit. The measuring unit is configured to be applied to a body segment of the predetermined joint. The processing unit is configured to: receive a plurality of data sets from the at least one measurement device, analyze the plurality of data sets for one or more indications of an elicited stretch reflex, and calculate a muscle stiffness score. The muscle stiffness score is based on at least a difference between a first stiffness and a second stiffness. The first stiffness is determined from the first subset, and the second stiffness is determined from the second subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: Movotec A/S, Københavns Universitet
    Inventors: Jens Bo Nielsen, Johnny Erik Westergaard, Peder Esben Bilde
  • Publication number: 20170020437
    Abstract: A system, an apparatus, and a method for measuring muscle stiffness in a predetermined joint of an individual are provided. The system and apparatus comprises a measuring unit and a processing unit. The measuring unit is configured to be applied to a body segment of the predetermined joint. The processing unit is configured to: receive a plurality of data sets from the at least one measurement device, analyze the plurality of data sets for one or more indications of an elicited stretch reflex, and calculate a muscle stiffness score. The muscle stiffness score is based on at least a difference between a first stiffness and a second stiffness. The first stiffness is determined from the first subset, and the second stiffness is determined from the second subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Bo Jens Nielsen, Johnny Erik Westergaard, Peder Esben Bilde
  • Publication number: 20080023233
    Abstract: According to the invention, a drive unit for trailers or caravans is provided that has a chassis (2) with crawler sections (3), a coupling device (4) and steering and maneuvering devices. The drive unit is coupled to the trailer or caravan and is used to position the trailer or caravan in a controlled and simple manner, without having to worry about the risk of colliding with a neighbor or damaging one's own vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Sunmover ApS
    Inventor: Knud Erik Westergaard