Patents by Inventor John Thon

John Thon 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).

  • Gliding robotic fish navigation and propulsion
    Patent number: 10589829
    Abstract: A robotic submersible includes a housing having a body and a tail. In another aspect, a pump and a pump tank adjust the buoyancy of a submersible housing. In a further aspect, a first linear actuator controls the pump and/or a buoyancy, and/or a second linear actuator controls a position of a battery and/or adjusts a center of gravity. Another aspect includes a pump and at least one linear actuator that control gliding movements of the housing. In still a further aspect, a motor couples a tail with a body, such that the motor controls the movements of the tail to create a swimming movement. Moreover, an additional aspect provides a controller selectively operating the pump, first actuator, second actuator, and motor to control when swimming and gliding movements occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Xiaobo Tan, Feitian Zhang, Jianxun Wang, John Thon
  • GLIDING ROBOTIC FISH NAVIGATION AND PROPULSION
    Publication number: 20180015991
    Abstract: A robotic submersible includes a housing having a body and a tail. In another aspect, a pump and a pump tank adjust the buoyancy of a submersible housing. In a further aspect, a first linear actuator controls the pump and/or a buoyancy, and/or a second linear actuator controls a position of a battery and/or adjusts a center of gravity. Another aspect includes a pump and at least one linear actuator that control gliding movements of the housing. In still a further aspect, a motor couples a tail with a body, such that the motor controls the movements of the tail to create a swimming movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Xiaobo Tan, Feitian Zhang, Jianxun Wang, John Thon
  • Gliding robotic fish navigation and propulsion
    Patent number: 9718523
    Abstract: A robotic submersible includes a housing having a body and a tail. In another aspect, a pump and a pump tank adjust the buoyancy of a submersible housing. In a further aspect, a first linear actuator controls the pump and/or a buoyancy, and/or a second linear actuator controls a position of a battery and/or adjusts a center of gravity. Another aspect includes a pump and at least one linear actuator that control gliding movements of the housing. In still a further aspect, a motor couples a tail with a body, such that the motor controls the movements of the tail to create a swimming movement. Moreover, an additional aspect provides a controller selectively operating the pump, first actuator, second actuator, and motor to control when swimming and gliding movements occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Xiaobo Tan, Feitian Zhang, Jianxun Wang, John Thon
  • GLIDING ROBOTIC FISH NAVIGATION AND PROPULSION
    Publication number: 20150120045
    Abstract: A robotic submersible includes a housing having a body and a tail. In another aspect, a pump and a pump tank adjust the buoyancy of a submersible housing. In a further aspect, a first linear actuator controls the pump and/or a buoyancy, and/or a second linear actuator controls a position of a battery and/or adjusts a center of gravity. Another aspect includes a pump and at least one linear actuator that control gliding movements of the housing. In still a further aspect, a motor couples a tail with a body, such that the motor controls the movements of the tail to create a swimming movement. Moreover, an additional aspect provides a controller selectively operating the pump, first actuator, second actuator, and motor to control when swimming and gliding movements occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiaobo Tan, Feitian Zhang, Jianxun Wang, John Thon