Patents by Inventor Sen Wai Kwok
Sen Wai Kwok 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: 11219973Abstract: There is provided a method for soldering a first non-metallic component to one or more metallic or non-metallic component, the method comprising the step of removably securing the first non-metallic component to the one or more metallic component by using a conductive polymeric composite or removably securing the first non-metallic component to the one or more non-metallic component by using the conductive polymeric composite, wherein the conductive polymeric composite used in the method comprises a blend of at least one filler material and at least one thermoplastic polymer.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCHInventors: Kuan Eng Johnson Goh, Siew Ting Melissa Tan, Sen Wai Kwok, Kok Hin Henry Goh
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Patent number: 10843336Abstract: Reconfigurable soft robotic actuators with hard components are described. Magnetic attraction is used to couple flexible molded bodies capable of actuation upon pressurization with other flexible molded bodies and/or with hard components (e.g., frames and connectors) to form a seal for fluidic communication and cooperative actuation. Pneumatic de-coupling chambers built into the hard components to de-couple the hard components from the magnetically-coupled soft molded bodies are described. The use of magnetic self-alignment coupling and pneumatic de-coupling allows for the remote assembly and disassembly of complex structures involving hard and soft components. The magnetic coupling allows for rapid, reversible reconfiguration of hybrid soft-hard robots for repair, testing new designs, and carrying out new tasks.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Sen Wai Kwok, Stephen A. Morin, Bobak Mosadegh, Ju-Hee So, Robert F. Shepherd, George M. Whitesides
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Patent number: 10465723Abstract: A soft robotic device includes a flexible body having a width, a length and a thickness, wherein the thickness is at least 1 mm, the flexible body having at least one channel disposed within the flexible body, the channel defined by upper, lower and side walls, wherein at least one wall is strain limiting; and a pressurizing inlet in fluid communication with the at least one channel, the at least one channel positioned and arranged such that the wall opposite the strain limiting wall preferentially expands when the soft robotic device is pressurized through the inlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Filip Ilievski, Xin Chen, Aaron D. Mazzeo, George M. Whitesides, Robert F. Shepherd, Ramses V. Martinez, Won Jae Choi, Sen Wai Kwok, Stephen A. Morin, Adam Stokes, Zhihong Nie
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Patent number: 10406698Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for providing modular soft robots are disclosed. In particular, the disclosed modular soft robot can include a flexible actuator having a plurality of molded flexible units. Each molded flexible unit can include a mechanical connector configured to provide a physical coupling to another molded flexible unit, and the plurality of molded flexible units are arranged to form an embedded fluidic channel. The modular soft robot can also include an inlet coupled to the embedded fluidic channel, where the inlet is configured to receive pressurized or depressurized fluid to inflate or deflate a portion of the flexible actuator, thereby causing an actuation of the flexible actuator.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Stephen A. Morin, Sen Wai Kwok, Robert F. Shepherd, George M. Whitesides
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Publication number: 20180326578Abstract: Reconfigurable soft robotic actuators with hard components are described. Magnetic attraction is used to couple flexible molded bodies capable of actuation upon pressurization with other flexible molded bodies and/or with hard components (e.g., frames and connectors) to form a seal for fluidic communication and cooperative actuation. Pneumatic de-coupling chambers built into the hard components to de-couple the hard components from the magnetically-coupled soft molded bodies are described. The use of magnetic self-alignment coupling and pneumatic de-coupling allows for the remote assembly and disassembly of complex structures involving hard and soft components. The magnetic coupling allows for rapid, reversible reconfiguration of hybrid soft-hard robots for repair, testing new designs, and carrying out new tasks.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Sen Wai KWOK, Stephen A. MORIN, Bobak MOSADEGH, Ju-Hee SO, Robert F. SHEPHERD, George M. WHITESIDES
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Patent number: 9962832Abstract: Reconfigurable soft robotic actuators with hard components are described. Magnetic attraction is used to couple flexible molded bodies capable of actuation upon pressurization with other flexible molded bodies and/or with hard components (e.g., frames and connectors) to form a seal for fluidic communication and cooperative actuation. Pneumatic de-coupling chambers built into the hard components to de-couple the hard components from the magnetically-coupled soft molded bodies are described. The use of magnetic self-alignment coupling and pneumatic de-coupling allows for the remote assembly and disassembly of complex structures involving hard and soft components. The magnetic coupling allows for rapid, reversible reconfiguration of hybrid soft-hard robots for repair, testing new designs, and carrying out new tasks.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeInventors: Sen Wai Kwok, Stephen A. Morin, Bobak Mosadegh, Ju-Hee So, Robert F. Shepherd, George M. Whitesides
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Publication number: 20180085862Abstract: There is provided a method for soldering a first non-metallic component to one or more metallic or non-metallic component, the method comprising the step of removably securing the first non-metallic component to the one or more metallic component by using a conductive polymeric composite or removably securing the first non-metallic component to the one or more non-metallic component by using the conductive polymeric composite, wherein the conductive polymeric composite used in the method comprises a blend of at least one filler material and at least one thermoplastic polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Kuan Eng Johnson GOH, Siew Ting Melissa TAN, Sen Wai KWOK, Kok Hin henry GOH
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Publication number: 20170097021Abstract: A soft robotic device includes a flexible body having a width, a length and a thickness, wherein the thickness is at least 1 mm, the flexible body having at least one channel disposed within the flexible body, the channel defined by upper, lower and side walls, wherein at least one wall is strain limiting; and a pressurizing inlet in fluid communication with the at least one channel, the at least one channel positioned and arranged such that the wall opposite the strain limiting wall preferentially expands when the soft robotic device is pressurized through the inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Filip ILIEVSKI, Xin CHEN, Aaron D. MAZZEO, George M. WHITESIDES, Robert F. SHEPHERD, Ramses V. MARTINEZ, Won Jae CHOI, Sen Wai KWOK, Stephen A. MORIN, Adam STOKES, Zhihong NIE
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Publication number: 20160001444Abstract: Reconfigurable soft robotic actuators with hard components are described. Magnetic attraction is used to couple flexible molded bodies capable of actuation upon pressurization with other flexible molded bodies and/or with hard components (e.g., frames and connectors) to form a seal for fluidic communication and cooperative actuation. Pneumatic de-coupling chambers built into the hard components to de-couple the hard components from the magnetically-coupled soft molded bodies are described. The use of magnetic self-alignment coupling and pneumatic de-coupling allows for the remote assembly and disassembly of complex structures involving hard and soft components. The magnetic coupling allows for rapid, reversible reconfiguration of hybrid soft-hard robots for repair, testing new designs, and carrying out new tasks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Sen Wai KWOK, Stephen A. MORIN, Bobak MOSADEGH, Ju-Hee SO, Robert F. SHEPHERD, George M. WHITESIDES
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Publication number: 20150217459Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for providing modular soft robots are disclosed. In particular, the disclosed modular soft robot can include a flexible actuator having a plurality of molded flexible units. Each molded flexible unit can include a mechanical connector configured to provide a physical coupling to another molded flexible unit, and the plurality of molded flexible units are arranged to form an embedded fluidic channel. The modular soft robot can also include an inlet coupled to the embedded fluidic channel, where the inlet is configured to receive pressurized or depressurized fluid to inflate or deflate a portion of the flexible actuator, thereby causing an actuation of the flexible actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2013Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Stephen A. Morin, Sen Wai Kwok, Robert F. Shepherd, George M. Whitesides