Patents by Inventor Vladimir Leonov
Vladimir Leonov 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: 7563151Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a driven wheel, a drive assembly including a drive motor, and a steering assembly including a first steering motor and first and second steering arms. The drive motor is coupled to the driven wheel. The first and second steering arms are coupled to the steering motor. The drive motor drives rotation of the drive assembly relative to the driven wheel, and the steering motor drives rotation of the first and second steering arms relative to the drive assembly. Preferably, a second steering motor is provided, and rotation of the first and second steering arms may be independently controlled.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2005Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, David S. Bowen
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Publication number: 20080314429Abstract: The present disclosure relates to thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and more specifically to TEGs operated with a heat source having a high thermal resistance, more specifically to TEGs operated under conditions of non-constant heat flow and non-constant temperature difference between a hot plate and a cold plate. A thermoelectric generator for connection between a heat source and a heat sink comprises a thermopile unit, the thermopile unit comprising at least one thermopile stage, each thermopile stage comprising a number of thermocouples each having a couple of thermocouple legs, the thermocouple legs being provided in between a hot junction plane and a cold junction plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: STICHTING IMEC NEDERLANDInventor: Vladimir Leonov
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Publication number: 20080271772Abstract: A method for manufacturing thermopile carrier chips comprises forming first type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs on a first surface of a substrate and afterwards removing part of the substrate form a second surface opposite to the first surface, thereby forming a carrier frame from the substrate and at least partially releasing the thermocouple legs from the substrate, wherein the thermocouple legs are attached between parts of the carrier frame. First type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple lets may be formed on the same substrate or on a separate substrate. In the latter approach both types of thermocouple legs may be optimised independently. The thermocouple legs may be self-supporting or they may be supported by a thin membrane layer. After mounting the thermopile carrier chips in a thermopile unit or in a thermoelectric generator, the sides of the carrier frame to which no thermocouple legs are attached are removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: STICHTING IMEC NEDERLANDInventors: Vladimir Leonov, Paolo Fiorini, Chris Van Hoof
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Publication number: 20080108276Abstract: An articulated walking device, configured for movement across a surface, includes a frame and a plurality of leg assemblies movably engaged with the frame. Each leg assembly includes a leg member configured to rotate with respect to the frame about first and second axes at least generally transverse to one another. A drive mechanism operatively engaged with the plurality of leg assemblies actuates each of the leg members in like, predetermined, repeatable cycles of movement. The leg members are out of phase with one another, such that sufficient leg members are always supporting the toy device in an upright manner and immediately adjoining leg members do not move together in parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2006Publication date: May 8, 2008Applicant: MATTEL, INC.Inventors: William Willett, Vladimir Leonov
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Publication number: 20070210540Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicant: MATTEL, INC.Inventors: Joseph Moll, Vladimir Leonov, William Willett, Kenlip Ong
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Patent number: 7255618Abstract: A screw drive vehicle has a main housing with forward and aft ends and first and second lateral sides. A first support arm rotatably supports a first pontoon assembly from the first lateral side of the main housing. A second support arm rotatably supports a second pontoon assembly from the second lateral side of the main housing. A reversible motor in the housing simultaneously rotates the support arms from positions parallel to one another and the main housing to non-parallel positions. Each pontoon assembly includes a tubular housing with exterior screw thread supported for rotation between distal ends of the arm and a reversible pontoon drive motor operably coupled with the tubular housing so as to rotate the housing and thread in a selected rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, Ong Kenlip
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Patent number: 7234990Abstract: A remote-controlled toy vehicle includes a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement. A driving motor is selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation and is drivingly connected to at least one of the road wheels through a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism operates in at least two modes, such that operation of the driving motor in either of its opposing directions of rotation causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in only a forward vehicle direction. A second motor can provide braking action or a third mode of forward vehicle propulsion.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Mattle, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, Nathan Bloch, Donald L. Balkie
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Patent number: 7217170Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Joseph T. Moll, Vladimir Leonov, William Willett, Kenlip Ong
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Publication number: 20070105479Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a lift mechanism which allows the toy vehicle to be lifted from a support surface in a lifting motion and roll end over end over end. The lift mechanism includes a lift arm pivotally mounted to a housing of the toy vehicle. A lift arm actuating motor is coupled to a lift arm drive screw that is in threaded engagement with a lift arm drive nut. A strut is coupled between the drive nut and the lift arm. In operation, the lift arm actuating motor drives the lift arm drive screw and causes the lift arm drive nut to drive the strut and move the lift arm into an extended position, causing the lift arm to engage a support surface to lift the toy vehicle. In the extended position, the toy vehicle is sufficiently rounded to permit the vehicle to roll end over end over end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2006Publication date: May 10, 2007Applicant: MATTEL, INC.Inventors: Joseph Moll, Justin Discoe, Vladimir Leonov, Nathan Bloch, John Clements, Gregory Garneau
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Patent number: 7172488Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a lift mechanism which allows the toy vehicle to be lifted from a support surface in a lifting motion and roll end over end over end. The lift mechanism includes a lift arm pivotally mounted to a housing of the toy vehicle. A lift arm actuating motor is coupled to a lift arm drive screw that is in threaded engagement with a lift arm drive nut. A strut is coupled between the drive nut and the lift arm. In operation, the lift arm actuating motor drives the lift arm drive screw and causes the lift arm drive nut to drive the strut and move the lift arm into an extended position, causing the lift arm to engage a support surface to lift the toy vehicle. In the extended position, the toy vehicle is sufficiently rounded to permit the vehicle to roll end over end over end.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Joseph T. Moll, Justin Discoe, Vladimir Leonov, Nathan Bloch, John M. Clements, Gregory Garneau
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Publication number: 20060211332Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a driven wheel, a drive assembly including a drive motor, and a steering assembly including a first steering motor and first and second steering arms. The drive motor is coupled to the driven wheel. The first and second steering arms are coupled to the steering motor. The drive motor drives rotation of the drive assembly relative to the driven wheel, and the steering motor drives rotation of the first and second steering arms relative to the drive assembly. Preferably, a second steering motor is provided, and rotation of the first and second steering arms may be independently controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2005Publication date: September 21, 2006Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, David Bowen
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Publication number: 20060160442Abstract: A screw drive vehicle has a main housing with forward and aft ends and first and second lateral sides. A first support arm rotatably supports a first pontoon assembly from the first lateral side of the main housing. A second support arm rotatably supports a second pontoon assembly from the second lateral side of the main housing. A reversible motor in the housing simultaneously rotates the support arms from positions parallel to one another and the main housing to non-parallel positions. Each pontoon assembly includes a tubular housing with exterior screw thread supported for rotation between distal ends of the arm and a reversible pontoon drive motor operably coupled with the tubular housing so as to rotate the housing and thread in a selected rotational direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2005Publication date: July 20, 2006Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, Ong Kenlip
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Publication number: 20060121824Abstract: A remote-controlled toy motorcycle includes a chassis supported by oversized front and rear tires for increased stability, and a chassis-mounted rider figure having rotating members for contacting a ground surface to prevent excessive wear of the rider figure legs and also to allow the toy motorcycle to self-start from a leaning position. “Counter-steering” is simulated by actuating a steering servo to initially turn a front wheel from a straight original direction to a direction opposite the desired turn direction. The front wheel is held momentarily while the toy motorcycle destabilizes and leans in the turn direction. Then, the steering servo is automatically actuated to turn the front wheel in the desired turn direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2005Publication date: June 8, 2006Inventors: Chun Lee, Steven Verbera, Vladimir Leonov, Paulo Kang
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Publication number: 20060089080Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2005Publication date: April 27, 2006Inventors: Joseph Moll, Vladimir Leonov, William Willett, Kenlip Ong
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Publication number: 20060000502Abstract: A thermoelectric generator (TEG) and a method of fabricating the TEG are described. The TEG is designed so that parasitic thermal resistance of air and height of legs of thermocouples forming a thermopile can be varied and optimized independently. The TEG includes a micromachined thermopile sandwiched in between a hot and a cold plate and at least one spacer in between the thermopile and the hot and/or cold plate. The TEG fabrication includes fabricating the thermopiles, a rim, and the cold plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2005Publication date: January 5, 2006Applicant: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)Inventors: Paolo Fiorini, Vladimir Leonov
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Patent number: 6966807Abstract: A screw drive vehicle has a main housing with forward and aft ends and first and second lateral sides. A first support arm rotatably supports a first pontoon assembly from the first lateral side of the main housing. A second support arm rotatably supports a second pontoon assembly from the second lateral side of the main housing. A reversible motor in the housing simultaneously rotates the support arms from positions parallel to one another and the main housing to non-parallel positions. Each pontoon assembly includes a tubular housing with exterior screw thread supported for rotation between distal ends of the arm and a reversible pontoon drive motor operably coupled with the tubular housing so as to rotate the housing and thread in a selected rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, Ong Kenlip
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Publication number: 20050250414Abstract: A remote-controlled toy vehicle includes a plurality of road wheels supporting the toy vehicle for movement. A driving motor is selectively reversible between first and second directions of rotation and is drivingly connected to at least one of the road wheels through a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism operates in at least two modes, such that operation of the driving motor in either of its opposing directions of rotation causes rotation of the at least one road wheel to propel the toy vehicle in only a forward vehicle direction. A second motor can provide braking action or a third mode of forward vehicle propulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2005Publication date: November 10, 2005Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, Nathan Bloch, Donald Balkie
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Publication number: 20050145699Abstract: A system for direct optical control of electronic power semiconductors includes an optical triggering circuit at a first location, wherein said optical triggering circuit generates an optical trigger signal, a power circuit located at a second location remote from the first location, wherein said power circuit includes a photoconductor that is responsive to the optical trigger signal generated by the optical triggering circuit, and an optical cable coupling the optical triggering circuit to the power circuit. In operation, the power circuit is directly driven by the transmission of the optical trigger signal from the optical triggering circuit to the power circuit via the optical cable. Inductive elements or transformers may be applied to facilitate triggering performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2004Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Oved Zucker, Vladimir Leonov, Simon London
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Publication number: 20050148282Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a lift mechanism which allows the toy vehicle to be lifted from a support surface in a lifting motion and roll end over end over end. The lift mechanism includes a lift arm pivotally mounted to a housing of the toy vehicle. A lift arm actuating motor is coupled to a lift arm drive screw that is in threaded engagement with a lift arm drive nut. A strut is coupled between the drive nut and the lift arm. In operation, the lift arm actuating motor drives the lift arm drive screw and causes the lift arm drive nut to drive the strut and move the lift arm into an extended position, causing the lift arm to engage a support surface to lift the toy vehicle. In the extended position, the toy vehicle is sufficiently rounded to permit the vehicle to roll end over end over end.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2004Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Joseph Moll, Justin Discoe, Vladimir Leonov, Nathan Bloch, John Clements, Gregory Garneau
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Patent number: D518116Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Leonov, Truman Gilbert