Patents by Inventor Mark PLECNIK

Mark PLECNIK 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).

  • Patent number: 11938044
    Abstract: A series elastic robotic limb may include an energy generator, an energy storage element, and a link assembly. The link assembly may include a plurality of links coupled, via one or more joints, at one or more pivot locations. The energy generator may output a first force that causes an accumulation of energy in the energy storage element while the link assembly is in a first configuration and transitions the link assembly from the first configuration to a second configuration. The energy storage element may release the energy accumulated in the energy storage element when the link assembly is in the second configuration. The link assembly in the second configuration may trigger a motion of the series elastic robotic limb by at least amplifying the first force output by the energy generator and a second force associated with the energy released from the energy storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Mark Plecnik, Ronald Fearing, Duncan Haldane, Justin Yim
  • Patent number: 11331209
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a torque-compensating assistive wrist brace includes a hand member adapted to be provided on a user's hand, a forearm member adapted to be provided on the user's forearm, and an assistive linkage that connects the hand and forearm members together, the assistive linkage being configured to apply a balancing torque to a wrist of the user that counteracts intrinsic stiffness within the wrist and assists the user in rotating the wrist in both the flexion and extension directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Mark Plecnik, Derek Bissell, David Reinkensmeyer, J. Michael McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20200046537
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a torque-compensating assistive wrist brace includes a hand member adapted to be provided on a user's hand, a forearm member adapted to be provided on the user's forearm, and an assistive linkage that connects the hand and forearm members together, the assistive linkage being configured to apply a balancing torque to a wrist of the user that counteracts intrinsic stiffness within the wrist and assists the user in rotating the wrist in both the flexion and extension directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Plecnik, Derek Bissell, David Reinkensmeyer, J. Michael McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20200046522
    Abstract: A series elastic robotic limb may include an energy generator, an energy storage element, and a link assembly. The link assembly may include a plurality of links coupled, via one or more joints, at one or more pivot locations. The energy generator may output a first force that causes an accumulation of energy in the energy storage element while the link assembly is in a first configuration and transitions the link assembly from the first configuration to a second configuration. The energy storage element may release the energy accumulated in the energy storage element when the link assembly is in the second configuration. The link assembly in the second configuration may trigger a motion of the series elastic robotic limb by at least amplifying the first force output by the energy generator and a second force associated with the energy released from the energy storage element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Mark PLECNIK, Ronald FEARING, Duncan HALDANE, Justin YIM