Patents by Inventor Laura Winfield
Laura Winfield 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).
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Patent number: 11500487Abstract: A device including a body configured to be grasped by a user's hand and a touch surface oriented on a first surface of the body, wherein the touch surface is configured to be engaged by an appendage of the user's hand when the body is grasped by the user's hand. The device also includes a friction modulator associated with the touch surface, wherein the friction modulator is configured to modulate a coefficient of friction between the user's appendage and the touch surface to provide haptic feedback.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Northwestern UniversityInventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Publication number: 20210255726Abstract: A device including a body configured to be grasped by a user's hand and a touch surface oriented on a first surface of the body, wherein the touch surface is configured to be engaged by an appendage of the user's hand when the body is grasped by the user's hand. The device also includes a friction modulator associated with the touch surface, wherein the friction modulator is configured to modulate a coefficient of friction between the user's appendage and the touch surface to provide haptic feedback.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 11016597Abstract: A device including a body configured to be grasped by a user's hand and a touch surface oriented on a first surface of the body, wherein the touch surface is configured to be engaged by an appendage of the user's hand when the body is grasped by the user's hand. The device also includes a friction modulator associated with the touch surface, wherein the friction modulator is configured to modulate a coefficient of friction between the user's appendage and the touch surface to provide haptic feedback.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Publication number: 20200183520Abstract: A device including a body configured to be grasped by a user's hand and a touch surface oriented on a first surface of the body, wherein the touch surface is configured to be engaged by an appendage of the user's hand when the body is grasped by the user's hand. The device also includes a friction modulator associated with the touch surface, wherein the friction modulator is configured to modulate a coefficient of friction between the user's appendage and the touch surface to provide haptic feedback.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2020Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 10620769Abstract: A device including a body configured to be grasped by a user's hand and a touch surface oriented on a first surface of the body, wherein the touch surface is configured to be engaged by an appendage of the user's hand when the body is grasped by the user's hand. The device also includes a friction modulator associated with the touch surface, wherein the friction modulator is configured to modulate a coefficient of friction between the user's appendage and the touch surface to provide haptic feedback.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 10594049Abstract: A connector includes a cable tray configured to receive and retain a cable in a stable position and couple with a top cap configured to create an electrical connection with the cable as the top cap is manipulated in a predetermined manner while coupled with the cable tray. An upper surface of the cable tray is configured to receive the cable (e.g., while the cable is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cable tray). The cable tray also includes a finger extending beyond the first end for some distance longitudinally. The finger includes a protrusion that protrudes to some extent in a transverse direction so that a cable-accommodating gap is defined between the protrusion and the first end. The protrusion is configured to bear against the cable and retain the cable in the stable position when the cable is inserted between the protrusion and the first end (before, during and/or after an electrical connection is established).Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Lowe's Companies, Inc.Inventors: Jean Tuck McGregor, James Michael Broughman, Allen R. Nelson, Darren Michael Mark, Laura Winfield Alexander, Donald Collins Meves
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Patent number: 10564790Abstract: A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface, applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface, modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a friction force applied to the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Publication number: 20190265818Abstract: A device including a body configured to be grasped by a user's hand and a touch surface oriented on a first surface of the body, wherein the touch surface is configured to be engaged by an appendage of the user's hand when the body is grasped by the user's hand. The device also includes a friction modulator associated with the touch surface, wherein the friction modulator is configured to modulate a coefficient of friction between the user's appendage and the touch surface to provide haptic feedback.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 10331285Abstract: A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface, applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface, modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a friction force applied to the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Publication number: 20190187842Abstract: A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface, applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface, modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a friction force applied to the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 10048823Abstract: A method of imitating a texture on a touch surface, the method including the steps of sensing a position of a user's finger on the touch surface, modulating a coefficient of friction of the touch surface in response to the sensed position of a user's appendage relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof, where the friction modulator does not alter the contour of the touch surface in a manner that is perceptible to a user's sight or touch.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Publication number: 20180191087Abstract: A connector includes a cable tray configured to receive and retain a cable in a stable position and couple with a top cap configured to create an electrical connection with the cable as the top cap is manipulated in a predetermined manner while coupled with the cable tray. An upper surface of the cable tray is configured to receive the cable (e.g., while the cable is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cable tray). The cable tray also includes a finger extending beyond the first end for some distance longitudinally. The finger includes a protrusion that protrudes to some extent in a transverse direction so that a cable-accommodating gap is defined between the protrusion and the first end. The protrusion is configured to bear against the cable and retain the cable in the stable position when the cable is inserted between the protrusion and the first end (before, during and/or after an electrical connection is established).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Jean Tuck McGregor, James Michael Broughman, Allen R. Nelson, Darren Michael Mark, Laura Winfield Alexander, Donald Collins Meves
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Publication number: 20180120982Abstract: A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface, applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface, modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a friction force applied to the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 9948012Abstract: A connector includes a cable tray configured to receive and retain a cable in a stable position and couple with a top cap configured to create an electrical connection with the cable as the top cap is manipulated in a predetermined manner while coupled with the cable tray. An upper surface of the cable tray is configured to receive the cable. The cable tray also includes a finger extending beyond the first end for some distance longitudinally. The finger includes a protrusion that protrudes to some extent in a transverse direction so that a cable-accommodating gap is defined between the protrusion and the first end. The protrusion is configured to bear against the cable and retain the cable in the stable position when the cable is inserted between the protrusion and the first end (before, during and/or after an electrical connection is established).Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.Inventors: Jean Tuck McGregor, James Michael Broughman, Allen R. Nelson, Darren Michael Mark, Laura Winfield Alexander, Donald Collins Meves
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Publication number: 20180011571Abstract: A method of imitating a texture on a touch surface, the method including the steps of sensing a position of a user's finger on the touch surface, modulating a coefficient of friction of the touch surface in response to the sensed position of a user's appendage relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof, where the friction modulator does not alter the contour of the touch surface in a manner that is perceptible to a user's sight or touch.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 9804724Abstract: An indirect haptic device having a substrate having a touch surface, a position sensor of a user's clothed appendage relative to the touch surface, a friction modulator associated with the substrate, a control device connected to the position sensor and the friction modulator, wherein a coefficient of friction on the touch surface is modulated in response to a sensed position of a user's clothed appendage relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYInventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Publication number: 20170133770Abstract: A connector includes a cable tray configured to receive and retain a cable in a stable position and couple with a top cap configured to create an electrical connection with the cable as the top cap is manipulated in a predetermined manner while coupled with the cable tray. An upper surface of the cable tray is configured to receive the cable. The cable tray also includes a finger extending beyond the first end for some distance longitudinally. The finger includes a protrusion that protrudes to some extent in a transverse direction so that a cable-accommodating gap is defined between the protrusion and the first end. The protrusion is configured to bear against the cable and retain the cable in the stable position when the cable is inserted between the protrusion and the first end (before, during and/or after an electrical connection is established).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Jean Tuck McGregor, James Michael Broughman, Allen R. Nelson, Darren Michael Mark, Laura Winfield Alexander
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Patent number: 9583843Abstract: A connector includes a cable tray configured to receive and retain a cable in a stable position and couple with a top cap configured to create an electrical connection with the cable as the top cap is manipulated in a predetermined manner while coupled with the cable tray. An upper surface of the cable tray is configured to receive the cable. The cable tray also includes a finger extending beyond the first end for some distance longitudinally. The finger includes a protrusion that protrudes to some extent in a transverse direction so that a cable-accommodating gap is defined between the protrusion and the first end. The protrusion is configured to bear against the cable and retain the cable in the stable position when the cable is inserted between the protrusion and the first end (before, during and/or after an electrical connection is established).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.Inventors: Jean Tuck McGregor, James Michael Broughman, Allen R. Nelson, Darren Michael Mark, Laura Winfield Alexander, Donald Collins Meves
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Patent number: 9391377Abstract: A connector includes a cable tray configured to receive and retain a cable in a stable position and couple with a top cap configured to create an electrical connection with the cable as the top cap is manipulated in a predetermined manner while coupled with the cable tray. An upper surface of the cable tray is configured to receive the cable. The cable tray also includes a finger extending beyond the first end for some distance longitudinally. The finger includes a protrusion that protrudes to some extent in a transverse direction so that a cable-accommodating gap is defined between the protrusion and the first end. The protrusion is configured to bear against the cable and retain the cable in the stable position when the cable is inserted between the protrusion and the first end (before, during and/or after an electrical connection is established).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.Inventors: Jean Tuck McGregor, James Michael Broughman, Allen R. Nelson, Darren Michael Mark, Laura Winfield Alexander, Donald Collins Meves
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Publication number: 20150355714Abstract: An indirect haptic device having a substrate having a touch surface, a position sensor of a user's clothed appendage relative to the touch surface, a friction modulator associated with the substrate, a control device connected to the position sensor and the friction modulator, wherein a coefficient of friction on the touch surface is modulated in response to a sensed position of a user's clothed appendage relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: James Edward Colgate, Michael A. Peshkin, John Glassmire, Laura Winfield Alexander