Patents by Inventor Jianshu ZHOU

Jianshu ZHOU 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).

  • Publication number: 20240066721
    Abstract: One example embodiment is a robotic end effector, comprising: (a) a soft gripper and (b) an electro-hydraulic actuator assembly. The soft gripper comprises: a gripper body comprising a finger connecting portion; and at least two fingers connected to the finger connecting portion. The gripper body further comprises a gripper cavity therein. The finger connecting portion and the at least two fingers define a working space therewithin, the working space comprises an opening between proximal ends of the at least two fingers. Each of the at least two fingers further comprises a finger barb substantially extending into the opening to partially close up the opening. The electro-hydraulic actuator assembly comprises: an actuator that is operatively driven by an electric motor; and a chamber that comprises a chamber variable volume controlled by the actuator. The chamber variable volume is in liquid communication with the gripper cavity to form a closed space filled with a liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Yunhui LIU, Jianshu ZHOU, Hanwen CAO, Tsz Fung AU
  • Publication number: 20230405841
    Abstract: In one aspect, provided is a robotic end effector, comprising a palm; a plurality of robotic fingers that are operatively connected to the palm, each finger comprising: a finger base having a proximal end portion that is operatively connected to the palm and an opposing, distal end portion; and a suction cup, wherein each of the plurality of fingers is operatively connected to the palm at the proximal end portion and is configured to be rotatable and/or movable relative to the palm, and wherein the suction cup is configured to be movable about a pivot of the distal end portion. Other example embodiments are described herein. In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides a versatile, multi-modal robotic end effector for grasping with enhanced picks per hour (PPH).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yunhui LIU, Jianshu ZHOU, Hanwen CAO, YiChuan LI, Tsz Fung AU
  • Patent number: 11358288
    Abstract: A robotic end effector and method for use thereof are provided. The robotic end effector can include a rigid base structure (230), a plurality of rigid proximal phalanges (210) connected to the rigid base structure (230), a plurality of rigid distal phalanges (200) connected to the proximal phalanges (210) respectively, and a plurality of bellows (250), wherein one end of a proximal phalange (210) is connected to one end of the base structure (230) by a bellows (250), wherein one end of a distal phalange (200) is connected to a proximal phalange (210) by a bellows (250), and wherein a portion of the base structure (230), each proximal phalange (210), and each distal phalange (200) are covered in silicone rubber. It can achieve a high output force to input pressure ratio, and cost efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: The University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Zheng Wang, Jianshu Zhou
  • Publication number: 20200298420
    Abstract: A robotic end effector and method for use thereof are provided. The robotic end effector can include a rigid base structure (230), a plurality of rigid proximal phalanges (210) connected to the rigid base structure (230), a plurality of rigid distal phalanges (200) connected to the proximal phalanges (210) respectively, and a plurality of bellows (250), wherein one end of a proximal phalange (210) is connected to one end of the base structure (230) by a bellows (250), wherein one end of a distal phalange (200) is connected to a proximal phalange (210) by a bellows (250), and wherein a portion of the base structure (230), each proximal phalange (210), and each distal phalange (200) are covered in silicone rubber. It can achieve a high output force to input pressure ratio, and cost efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Zheng WANG, Jianshu ZHOU