Patents by Inventor Luke T. Van

Luke T. Van 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).

  • Tongue stimulation for communication of information to a user
    Patent number: 9669159
    Abstract: Example devices and methods of tongue stimulation for communication of information to a user are disclosed herein. In an example, a tongue stimulation device may include a body configured to be placed entirely within a mouth of the user and atop the tongue of the user. An array of electro-tactile elements may be distributed on the body, wherein each of the electro-tactile elements is configured to stimulate an area of the tongue adjacent the electro-tactile element. A wireless receiver coupled to the body may be configured to receive stimulation information wirelessly from outside the mouth of the user. At least one processing unit coupled to the body may be configured to transform the received stimulation information into a stimulation signal for each of the electro-tactile elements, and to provide the stimulation signals to the electro-tactile elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: John D. Williams, Joel A. Moritz, Charles S. Henry, Steven D. Floyd, Luke T. Van, Kendall Gurule, Jaclyn A. Adkins, Matthew J. Swigart, Travis S. Bailey, Leslie M. Stone-Roy
  • TONGUE STIMULATION FOR COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION TO A USER
    Publication number: 20150283384
    Abstract: Example devices and methods of tongue stimulation for communication of information to a user are disclosed herein. In an example, a tongue stimulation device may include a body configured to be placed entirely within a mouth of the user and atop the tongue of the user. An array of electro-tactile elements may be distributed on the body, wherein each of the electro-tactile elements is configured to stimulate an area of the tongue adjacent the electro-tactile element. A wireless receiver coupled to the body may be configured to receive stimulation information wirelessly from outside the mouth of the user. At least one processing unit coupled to the body may be configured to transform the received stimulation information into a stimulation signal for each of the electro-tactile elements, and to provide the stimulation signals to the electro-tactile elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: John D. Williams, Joel A. Moritz, Charles S. Henry, Steven D. Floyd, Luke T. Van, Kendall Gurule, Jaclyn A. Adkins, Matthew J. Swigart, Travis S. Bailey, Leslie M. Stone-Roy