Patents by Inventor Wayne Yi-Wei Tung
Wayne Yi-Wei Tung 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: 11938074Abstract: A neck supporting exoskeleton is configured to be worn by a person to support the person's head during backward extension motions of the person's neck. The neck supporting exoskeleton may comprise a torso frame configured to be coupled to the person's torso, a head pillow configured to contact the rear portion of the person's head during backward extension motions of the person's neck, a linkage allowing for relative motion between the head pillow and the torso frame in the sagittal plane of the person, and an actuator configured to impose a supporting force onto the head pillow. When the person's neck extension angle increases beyond an engagement angle, the actuator causes the linkage to impose a supporting force onto the head pillow resisting the backward extension motion of the head pillow and the person's head relative to the torso frame thereby providing a support for the person's head.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, suitX, Inc.Inventors: Logan Van Engelhoven, Homayoon Kazerooni, James Ren, Wayne Yi-Wei Tung, Valantyn Koziak
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Patent number: 11819428Abstract: A robotic joint comprises a first link, a middle link, a torque generator, a second link, and a locking mechanism. Different ends of the middle link are rotatably coupled to the first link and the second link. The torque generator is coupled to the first link and the middle link and is configured to produce torque between these links. The locking mechanism is switchable between a locking state and an unlocking state. In the unlocking state, the locking mechanism allows free rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first and second rotation directions. In the locking state, the locking mechanism is configured to impede rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first rotation direction and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the second rotation direction opposite of the first rotation direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Homayoon Kazerooni, Minerva P. Pillai, Wayne Yi-Wei Tung
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Publication number: 20220273469Abstract: A robotic joint comprises a first link, a middle link, a torque generator, a second link, and a locking mechanism. Different ends of the middle link are rotatably coupled to the first link and the second link. The torque generator is coupled to the first link and the middle link and is configured to produce torque between these links. The locking mechanism is switchable between a locking state and an unlocking state. In the unlocking state, the locking mechanism allows free rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first and second rotation directions. In the locking state, the locking mechanism is configured to impede rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first rotation direction and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the second rotation direction opposite of the first rotation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Homayoon Kazerooni, Minerva P. Pillai, Wayne Yi-Wei Tung
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Patent number: 11369494Abstract: A robotic joint includes a first link, a middle link, a torque generator, a second link, and a locking mechanism. Different ends of the middle link are rotatably coupled to the first link and the second link. The torque generator is coupled to the first link and the middle link and is configured to produce a torque between these links. The locking mechanism is switchable between a locking state and an unlocking state. In the unlocking state, the locking mechanism allows free rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first and second rotation directions. In the locking state, the locking mechanism is configured to impede rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first rotation direction and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the second rotation direction opposite of the first rotation direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: The Regents of the University of CalifomiaInventors: Homayoon Kazerooni, Minerva V. Pillai, Wayne Yi-Wei Tung
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Patent number: 10709633Abstract: A coupling device couples a walker to a torso orthosis which is coupled to a person. The coupling device includes an orthosis coupling member coupled to said torso orthosis, a walker coupling member coupled to said walker, and a mechanism coupled to the orthosis coupling member from its first end and to the walker coupling member from its second end. The mechanism constrains said orthosis coupling member to move along a free line. The torso orthosis is worn by the person and said coupling device is coupled to both said walker and said torso orthosis. The person may be walking along a moving direction not parallel with said free line. The mechanism forces said walker and torso orthosis to move along said moving direction and allows said torso orthosis to move freely along said free line when said moving direction is not parallel with said free line.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Homayoon Kazerooni, Nicholas J. Errico, Katherine Marie Fearing, Wayne Yi-Wei Tung
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Publication number: 20200171648Abstract: A trunk supporting exoskeleton comprises: a supporting trunk; thigh links configured to move in unison with a wearer's thighs; and first and second torque generators located on both left and right halves of the wearer substantially close to the wearer's hip. The torque generators couple the supporting trunk to the thigh links, and generate torque between the thigh links and the supporting trunk. When the wearer bends forward such that a predetermined portion of the supporting trunk passes beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, a torque generator(s) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and the thigh link(s), causing the supporting trunk to impose a force against the wearer's trunk, and the thigh link(s) to impose a force onto the wearer's thigh. When the predetermined portion does not pass beyond the predetermined angle, the torque generators impose no resisting torques between said supporting trunk and respective thigh links.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicants: The Regents of the University of California, U.S. Bionics, Inc.Inventors: Wayne Yi-Wei Tung, Nathan Poon, Theerapat Yangyuenthanasan, Homayoon Kazerooni
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Publication number: 20200121543Abstract: A neck supporting exoskeleton is configured to be worn by a person to support the person's head during backward extension motions of the person's neck. The neck supporting exoskeleton may comprise a torso frame configured to be coupled to the person's torso, a head pillow configured to contact the rear portion of the person's head during backward extension motions of the person's neck, a linkage allowing for relative motion between the head pillow and the torso frame in the sagittal plane of the person, and an actuator configured to impose a supporting force onto the head pillow. When the person's neck extension angle increases beyond an engagement angle, the actuator causes the linkage to impose a supporting force onto the head pillow resisting the backward extension motion of the head pillow and the person's head relative to the torso frame thereby providing a support for the person's head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicants: U.S. Bionics, Inc., The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Logan Van Engelhoven, Homayoon Kazerooni, James Ren, Wayne Yi-Wei Tung
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Patent number: 10524974Abstract: A trunk supporting exoskeleton comprises: a supporting trunk; thigh links configured to move in unison with a wearer's thighs; and first and second torque generators located on both left and right halves of the wearer substantially close to the wearer's hip. The torque generators couple the supporting trunk to the thigh links, and generate torque between the thigh links and the supporting trunk. When the wearer bends forward such that a predetermined portion of the supporting trunk passes beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, a torque generator(s) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and the thigh link(s), causing the supporting trunk to impose a force against the wearer's trunk, and the thigh link(s) to impose a force onto the wearer's thigh. When the predetermined portion does not pass beyond the predetermined angle, the torque generators impose no resisting torques between said supporting trunk and respective thigh links.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, U.S. Bionics, Inc.Inventors: Wayne Yi-Wei Tung, Nathan Poon, Theerapat Yangyuenthanasan, Homayoon Kazerooni
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Publication number: 20170367852Abstract: A robotic joint comprises a first link, a middle link, a torque generator, a second link, and a locking mechanism. Different ends of the middle link are rotatably coupled to the first link and the second link. The torque generator is coupled to the first link and the middle link and is configured to produce a torque between these links. The locking mechanism is switchable between a locking state and an unlocking state. In the unlocking state, the locking mechanism allows free rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first and second rotation directions. In the locking state, the locking mechanism is configured to impede rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first rotation direction and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the second rotation direction opposite of the first rotation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Homayoon Kazerooni, Minerva V. Pillai, Wayne Yi-Wei Tung