Patents by Inventor Ethan Weber

Ethan Weber 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).

  • Repulsive-attractive-force electrostatic actuator
    Patent number: 10951133
    Abstract: A repulsive-attractive-force electrostatic actuator according to some embodiments of the invention includes a first actuator layer including a first substrate, a first electrode pattern, and a second electrode pattern. The actuator further includes a second actuator layer including a second substrate, a third electrode pattern, and a fourth electrode pattern. The actuator further includes a first voltage source connected to the first and second electrode patterns such that the first electrode pattern is at a relative voltage of V1 to the second electrode pattern, and a second voltage source connected to the third and fourth electrode patterns such that the third electrode pattern is at a relative voltage of V2 to the fourth electrode pattern. The applied relative voltages V1 and V2 are selectable to provide one of a selected repulsive force or a selected attractive force between the first and second actuator layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Ethan Weber Schaler, Ronald S. Fearing
  • REPULSIVE-ATTRACTIVE-FORCE ELECTROSTATIC ACTUATOR
    Publication number: 20190312528
    Abstract: A repulsive-attractive-force electrostatic actuator according to some embodiments of the invention includes a first actuator layer including a first substrate, a first electrode pattern, and a second electrode pattern. The actuator further includes a second actuator layer including a second substrate, a third electrode pattern, and a fourth electrode pattern. The actuator further includes a first voltage source connected to the first and second electrode patterns such that the first electrode pattern is at a relative voltage of V1 to the second electrode pattern, and a second voltage source connected to the third and fourth electrode patterns such that the third electrode pattern is at a relative voltage of V2 to the fourth electrode pattern. The applied relative voltages V1 and V2 are selectable to provide one of a selected repulsive force or a selected attractive force between the first and second actuator layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ethan Weber Schaler, Ronald S. Fearing
  • CUSTOMER REPLACEABLE UNIT DRIVE ISOLATOR
    Publication number: 20110188195
    Abstract: Disclosed is a customer replaceable unit that uses an overmolded plastic to isolate the disk drive from the customer replaceable unit frame. By isolating the disk drive from the customer replaceable unit frame, input/output operations are not disrupted as a result of vibration and shocks from the chassis in which the customer replaceable unit is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Tanja Scherf-Smith, Ethan Weber