Patents by Inventor Matthew N. Schneider
Matthew N. Schneider 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: 11918116Abstract: A system for managing the elevation of a workstation, the system comprising a frame, a worktop having an upper worksurface, at least a first powered vertical-displacement drive mechanism connected between the frame and the worktop and arranged to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to the frame, a presence sensor and a processor linked to the drive mechanism and the sensor, the processor using information from the presence sensor to track user presence at the workstation and, upon detecting that the workstation is unoccupied, automatically controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop from a current height to a scheduled height.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Michael Xinjie Chu, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider
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Publication number: 20230299711Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising a solar tracker. The solar tracker includes one or more solar panels and a first dampening assembly comprising a dampener that provides dampening of rotation of the one or more solar panels to provide for dampening of the solar tracker and the one or more solar panels, the dampener reducing undesirable oscillations of the one or more solar panels of the solar tracker.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Victoria Macomber, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Matthew N Schneider, Christopher Oestreich, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Louis Hong Basel, Saul Thomas Griffith, Peter Aumann, Kyle Allen Lamson, Jonah Sternthal, Eleanor Blair, Nicholas Andrew Catalan, Amando Luke Miller
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Patent number: 11683003Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising one or more tracker rotation control systems that include: a curved gear plate; and a locking element configured to lock the solar tracker system in a first configuration.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Victoria Macomber, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Matthew N Schneider, Christopher Oestreich, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Louis Hong Basel, Saul Thomas Griffith, Peter Aumann, Kyle Allen Lamson, Jonah Sternthal, Eleanor Blair, Nicholas Andrew Catalan, Amando Luke Miller
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Publication number: 20210399679Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising one or more tracker rotation control systems that include: a curved gear plate; and a locking element configured to lock the solar tracker system in a first configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Victoria Macomber, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Matthew N Schneider, Christopher Oestreich, Eric Preston Lien Suan, Louis Hong Basel, Saul Thomas Griffith, Peter Aumann, Kyle Allen Lamson, Jonah Sternthal, Eleanor Blair, Nicholas Andrew Catalan, Amando Luke Miller
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Publication number: 20210226578Abstract: A fluidic actuator including an angled bottom plate having a cap and first and second plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the cap. The fluidic actuator further includes a top plate coupled about the cap of the angled bottom plate and a rotatable coupling of the angled bottom plate and top plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Kyle Douglass Betts, Alex Tan Kwan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Erica S. C. Lin, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Matthew N Schneider, Youngjoo Shin, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Publication number: 20210194415Abstract: A fluidic actuation system for controlling rotation of one or more panels, having a first valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a first vessel and a fluid source, having a first and second valve; and a second valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a second vessel and the fluid source, having a third and fourth valve. The first valve is configured to control a supply of fluid from the fluid source to the first vessel; the second valve is configured to release fluid from the first vessel; the third valve is configured to control a supply of the fluid from the fluid source to the second vessel; and the fourth valve is configured to release the fluid from the second vessel. Introduction or release of fluid from one or both the first and second vessels is configured to cause rotation of the one or more panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N Schneider
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Publication number: 20210175841Abstract: A solar tracker system having one or more solar trackers that each include one or more panels and one or more actuators coupled to the one or more panels, the one or more actuators having a first and second vessel; and an electronic control unit configured to inflate the first vessel with fluid from a fluid source and configured to separately inflate the second vessel with fluid from the fluid source. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a stow event is present based on a first set of environmental data obtained from an environmental sensor that indicates environmental conditions pose a threat to the one or more solar trackers, and in response to determining that the stow event is present, actuate the one or more panels toward a stow configuration target angle by at least inflating the first or second vessels with fluid from the fluid source.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Kyle Douglass Betts, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N. Schneider, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Patent number: 10951159Abstract: A pneumatic control unit configured to inflate a first and second set of bellows with fluid from a pneumatic fluid source via a pneumatic circuit, the first and second set of bellows associated with one or more pneumatic actuators. The pneumatic control unit determines a target configuration of the actuators based on a determined current position of the sun; determines a current configuration of the actuators; determines a difference between the determined current configuration and target configuration of the actuators; determines that the difference between current configuration and the target configuration of the actuators is outside of a tolerance range; and actuates the actuators toward the determined target configuration by at least one of inflating the first or second set of bellows with fluid from the pneumatic fluid source via the pneumatic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Kyle Douglass Betts, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N Schneider, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Patent number: 10944353Abstract: A system for controlling a rotation of one or more solar panels about an axis of rotation, comprising one or more solar panels defining a longitudinal axis, one or more bellows actuators coupled to the one or more solar panels and defining an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panels, a fluid source, a first valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, a second valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, and a controller, wherein introduction or release of fluid from one or more of the bellows actuators is configured to cause rotation of the one or more actuators about the axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N Schneider
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Patent number: 10917038Abstract: An actuator that includes a bottom plate, a top-plate, and a first and second hub assembly extending between the bottom and top plates. The actuator can further include a first and second bellows disposed on opposing sides of the hub assemblies, the first and second bellows each extending between and coupled to the top plate and bottom plate. The actuator can also include a plurality of washers disposed between the top and bottom plates, with each of the washers coupled to the first and second hub assembly, a first set of the plurality of washers surrounding the first bellows and a second set of the plurality of washers surrounding the second bellows.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Kyle Douglass Betts, Alex Tan Kwan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Erica S. C. Lin, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Matthew N Schneider, Youngjoo Shin, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Patent number: 10869118Abstract: A sound management system for use by a user located within an environment includes a memory device for storing a selection of sounds. The sounds can be music and/or various “colors” of noise (e.g., white, pink, and brown). A controller is used to select one particular stored sound based on a measured biological condition of the user, such as stress or fatigue, or an environmental condition of the environment, such as ambient noise. According to one embodiment, the system is used in conjunction with a sit/stand desk and the sound selection is made in response to changes in the desk height. The selected sound is selected to help abate or mitigate distracting sounds in the environment, such as people talking. The selected sounds are played to the user through headphones worn by the user, or through nearby speakers.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: STEELCASE INC.Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider
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Patent number: 10827829Abstract: A system for managing the elevation of a workstation, the system comprising a frame, a worktop having an upper worksurface, at least a first powered vertical-displacement drive mechanism connected between the frame and the worktop and arranged to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to the frame, a presence sensor and a processor linked to the drive mechanism and the sensor, the processor using information from the presence sensor to track user presence at the workstation and, upon detecting that the workstation is unoccupied, automatically controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop from a current height to a scheduled height.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: STEELCASE INC.Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Michael Xinjie Chu, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider
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Publication number: 20190356982Abstract: A sound management system for use by a user located within an environment includes a memory device for storing a selection of sounds. The sounds can be music and/or various “colors” of noise (e.g., white, pink, and brown). A controller is used to select one particular stored sound based on a measured biological condition of the user, such as stress or fatigue, or an environmental condition of the environment, such as ambient noise. According to one embodiment, the system is used in conjunction with a sit/stand desk and the sound selection is made in response to changes in the desk height. The selected sound is selected to help abate or mitigate distracting sounds in the environment, such as people talking. The selected sounds are played to the user through headphones worn by the user, or through nearby speakers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider
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Patent number: 10419842Abstract: A sound management system for use by a user located within an environment includes a memory device for storing a selection of sounds. The sounds can be music and/or various “colors” of noise (e.g., white, pink, and brown). A controller is used to select one particular stored sound based on a measured biological condition of the user, such as stress or fatigue, or an environmental condition of the environment, such as ambient noise. According to one embodiment, the system is used in conjunction with a sit/stand desk and the sound selection is made in response to changes in the desk height. The selected sound is selected to help abate or mitigate distracting sounds in the environment, such as people talking. The selected sounds are played to the user through headphones worn by the user, or through nearby speakers.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider
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Publication number: 20180310091Abstract: A sound management system for use by a user located within an environment includes a memory device for storing a selection of sounds. The sounds can be music and/or various “colors” of noise (e.g., white, pink, and brown). A controller is used to select one particular stored sound based on a measured biological condition of the user, such as stress or fatigue, or an environmental condition of the environment, such as ambient noise. According to one embodiment, the system is used in conjunction with a sit/stand desk and the sound selection is made in response to changes in the desk height. The selected sound is selected to help abate or mitigate distracting sounds in the environment, such as people talking. The selected sounds are played to the user through headphones worn by the user, or through nearby speakers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider
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Publication number: 20180302025Abstract: An actuator that includes a bottom plate, a top-plate, and a first and second hub assembly extending between the bottom and top plates. The actuator can further include a first and second bellows disposed on opposing sides of the hub assemblies, the first and second bellows each extending between and coupled to the top plate and bottom plate. The actuator can also include a plurality of washers disposed between the top and bottom plates, with each of the washers coupled to the first and second hub assembly, a first set of the plurality of washers surrounding the first bellows and a second set of the plurality of washers surrounding the second bellows.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Kyle Douglass Betts, Alex Tan Kwan, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Erica S. C. Lin, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Matthew N Schneider, Youngjoo Shin, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Publication number: 20180302027Abstract: A pneumatic control unit configured to inflate a first and second set of bellows with fluid from a pneumatic fluid source via a pneumatic circuit, the first and second set of bellows associated with one or more pneumatic actuators. The pneumatic control unit determines a target configuration of the actuators based on a determined current position of the sun; determines a current configuration of the actuators; determines a difference between the determined current configuration and target configuration of the actuators; determines that the difference between current configuration and the target configuration of the actuators is outside of a tolerance range; and actuates the actuators toward the determined target configuration by at least one of inflating the first or second set of bellows with fluid from the pneumatic fluid source via the pneumatic circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Kyle Douglass Betts, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, James Vincent Nolan, IV, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N. Schneider, Eric Preston Lien Suan
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Publication number: 20180302026Abstract: A system for controlling a rotation of one or more solar panels about an axis of rotation, comprising one or more solar panels defining a longitudinal axis, one or more bellows actuators coupled to the one or more solar panels and defining an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panels, a fluid source, a first valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, a second valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, and a controller, wherein introduction or release of fluid from one or more of the bellows actuators is configured to cause rotation of the one or more actuators about the axis of rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N Schneider
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Patent number: 10038952Abstract: A sound management system for use by a user located within an environment includes a memory device for storing a selection of sounds. The sounds can be music and/or various “colors” of noise (e.g., white, pink, and brown). A controller is used to select one particular stored sound based on a measured biological condition of the user, such as stress or fatigue, or an environmental condition of the environment, such as ambient noise. According to one embodiment, the system is used in conjunction with a sit/stand desk and the sound selection is made in response to changes in the desk height. The selected sound is selected to help abate or mitigate distracting sounds in the environment, such as people talking. The selected sounds are played to the user through headphones worn by the user, or through nearby speakers.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2015Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: STEELCASE INC.Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider
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Publication number: 20150222989Abstract: A sound management system for use by a user located within an environment includes a memory device for storing a selection of sounds. The sounds can be music and/or various “colors” of noise (e.g., white, pink, and brown). A controller is used to select one particular stored sound based on a measured biological condition of the user, such as stress or fatigue, or an environmental condition of the environment, such as ambient noise. According to one embodiment, the system is used in conjunction with a sitstand desk and the sound selection is made in response to changes in the desk height. The selected sound is selected to help abate or mitigate distracting sounds in the environment, such as people talking. The selected sounds are played to the user through headphones worn by the user, or through nearby speakers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Jean-Paul Labrosse, Scott Sullivan, Matthew N. Schneider