Patents by Inventor Paul J. Keas

Paul J. Keas 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: 11938922
    Abstract: A motion control system that includes a support motion control system and a body motion control system. The body motion control system includes passive motion control components and active motion control components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Akhil J. Madhani, Robin A. Auckland, Giles D. Wood, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Xingchen Fan, Jonathan L. Hall, Paul J. Keas
  • Publication number: 20230278386
    Abstract: A motion control system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Jacob L. Dawson, Paul J. Keas, Troy A. Carter, Roland R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11701942
    Abstract: A motion control system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Jacob L. Dawson, Paul J. Keas, Troy A. Carter, Roland R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220258557
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Jacob L. Dawson, Paul J. Keas, Troy A. Carter, Roland R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11358431
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Jacob L. Dawson, Paul J. Keas, Troy A. Carter, Roland R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11285773
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a wheel, a suspension system that supports the wheel relative to the vehicle body, a sensing system for determining an environmental condition ahead of the vehicle and a control system. The suspension system includes a primary actuator that transfers force between the wheel and the vehicle body, and a wheel hop damper that includes a moving mass and that transfers force between the wheel and the moving mass independent of the vehicle body to inhibit resonance of an unsprung mass formed by the wheel and a portion of the suspension system coupled thereto. The control system operates the primary actuator to provide additional secondary ride control when the wheel hop damper exceeds a capacity threshold. The control system changes the capacity threshold according to the environmental condition. The wheel hop damper may be a reaction mass actuator or a tuned mass damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Matisse J. Milovich, Paul J. Keas, Neal M. Lackritz
  • Patent number: 11124035
    Abstract: A suspension actuator includes an upper mount, a lower mount, a first actuator mechanism, and a second actuator mechanism. The upper mount is connectable to a sprung mass of a vehicle. The lower mount is connectable to an unsprung mass of the vehicle. The first actuator mechanism forms a first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The first actuator mechanism is one of an electromagnetic linear actuator mechanism or a ball screw actuator mechanism. The second actuator mechanism forms a second load path in parallel with the first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The second actuator mechanism is one of a mechanical linear actuator mechanism, an air spring actuator mechanism, or a hydraulic actuator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Troy A. Carter, Paul J. Keas
  • Patent number: 11090997
    Abstract: A suspension actuator includes an upper mount, a lower mount, a first actuator mechanism, and a second actuator mechanism. The upper mount is connectable to a sprung mass of a vehicle. The lower mount is connectable to an unsprung mass of the vehicle. The first actuator mechanism forms a first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The first actuator mechanism is one of an electromagnetic linear actuator mechanism or a ball screw actuator mechanism. The second actuator mechanism forms a second load path in parallel with the first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The second actuator mechanism is one of a mechanical linear actuator mechanism, an air spring actuator mechanism, or a hydraulic actuator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Troy A. Carter, Paul J. Keas
  • Patent number: 11065931
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a primary actuator, an inertial actuator, and a controller. The primary actuator applies force between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of a vehicle to control movement therebetween. The inertial actuator applies force between the unsprung mass and a reaction mass to damp movement of the unsprung mass. The inertial actuator has a threshold capacity. The controller controls the primary actuator and the inertial actuator. The controller determines a required damping of the movement of the unsprung mass, and apportions the required damping between the primary actuator and the inertial actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Keas, Jonathan L. Hall, Kan Zhou, Troy A. Carter, Neal M. Lackritz
  • Patent number: 10906370
    Abstract: A suspension actuator assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator selectively applies a first force between an unsprung mass and a sprung mass of a vehicle to control movement therebetween. The second actuator selectively applies a second force between the unsprung mass and a reaction mass to damp movement of the unsprung mass. The second actuator is coupled to the first actuator to form the suspension actuator assembly as a singular unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Kan Zhou, Troy A. Carter, Paul J. Keas, Neal M. Lackritz
  • Patent number: 10814690
    Abstract: An active suspension system for a vehicle having a wheel that is subject to an external force includes an actuator having an output structure that is connected to the wheel, an energy storage device having a compressible chamber, a valve assembly that is operable to control flow of a working fluid between the actuator and the energy storage device, and a controller that determines whether to permit or resist motion of the output structure in response to the external force. The controller permits motion of the output structure by allowing fluid to flow from the actuator to the energy storage device using the valve assembly, thereby compressing the compressible chamber. The controller resists motion of the output structure by allowing fluid to flow from the energy storage device to the actuator using the valve assembly, thereby expanding the compressible chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Diomidis Katzourakis, Christopher L. Porritt, Johannes A. Huennekens, Huibert Mees, Paul J. Keas
  • Publication number: 20200171907
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Jacob L. Dawson, Paul J. Keas, Troy A. Carter, Roland R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6571166
    Abstract: A head up display system that incorporates conformal and non-conformal views and associated symbology to provide highly informative and intuitive guidance with respect to all aspects of operating an aircraft or other vehicle in a controlled geographical area, by utilizing calculated views from the pilot seat, aircraft speed, and relevant ground operation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Johnson, Paul J. Keas