Search Patents
  • Rotary airfoil with reduced acoustic output
    Patent number: 11905009
    Abstract: The rotary airfoil 100 defines a cross section and a span, wherein the cross section is a function of the point along the span (e.g., spanwise point) and defines an upper surface and a lower surface at each spanwise point. The rotary airfoil 100 also defines, at a cross section, a lift coefficient (CL) that is a function of the angle of attack at which the airfoil is rotated through the air. The system can optionally include: a rotor hub to mount the rotary airfoil, a tilt mechanism to pivot the rotary airfoil between a forward configuration and a hover configuration, and a pitching mechanism to change the angle of attack of the rotary airfoil 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, JoeBen Bevirt, Jeremy Bain, Alex Stoll
  • Golf ball locating system and methods of use
    Publication number: 20080000364
    Abstract: A method and a golf ball locating system enable a golfer to easily find a “lost” ball. The method for playing golf includes providing a golf ball that complies with golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association, wherein the golf ball has a construction that is of at least a two-piece construction, providing the golfer with a writing instrument that contains a magnetic ink composition, and placing a mark across an outer surface of the golf ball using the writing instrument. The method also includes striking the golf ball with at least one golf club, and locating the golf ball using a handheld transmitting/receiving device that is programmed to detect the mark written on the golf ball from a distance of at least twenty feet away from the golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Dennis Paul Bevirt
  • ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND FAULT TOLERANT VTOL AIRCRAFT USING SAME
    Publication number: 20200010187
    Abstract: A power system with a reliability enhancing battery architecture for electric motors adapted for use in an aerial vehicle. Individual batteries may be used to power a subset two or more motors in systems with six or more motors, for example. Each motor may be powered may be powered by two or more subsets of batteries, allowing accommodation for motor failure. With a failed motor in a vertical take-off or landing mode, power may be diverted to other motors to continue proper attitude control, and to provide sufficient thrust. With a failed motor a second motor offset from the failed motor may be powered down to facilitate attitude control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Alex Stoll, Martin van der Geest, Scott MacAfee, Jason Ryan
  • Electric power system architecture and fault tolerant VTOL aircraft using same
    Patent number: 11827347
    Abstract: A power system with a reliability enhancing battery architecture for electric motors adapted for use in an aerial vehicle. Individual batteries may be used to power a subset two or more motors in systems with six or more motors, for example. Each motor may be powered may be powered by two or more subsets of batteries, allowing accommodation for motor failure. With a failed motor in a vertical take-off or landing mode, power may be diverted to other motors to continue proper attitude control, and to provide sufficient thrust. With a failed motor a second motor offset from the failed motor may be powered down to facilitate attitude control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Alex Stoll, Martin van der Geest, Scott MacAfee, Jason Ryan
  • Microarray placer unit
    Publication number: 20040136868
    Abstract: The present invention provides a placer unit for a microarray processing device to transport a workpiece such as a microscope slide before and after processing operations by the microarray processing device. The processing device is slidably attached to a gantry and has a support carriage and a movable arm. The movable arm is slidably attached to the support carriage. The placer unit includes a main support body, a latching mechanism and a vacuum chuck. The main support body is mounted on the support carriage and allowed to translate up and down. The latching mechanism enables the main support body to couple with the movable arm of the processing device. The vacuum chuck is used to hold the workpiece for transportation. The present invention also includes a method within a microarray processing machine for transporting a workpiece such as a microscope slide from one workstation to another workstation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Incyte Corporation
    Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Eric J. Rollins
  • Microplate sealer
    Publication number: 20020021986
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a microplate comprises a seal material and a seal advancer. The seal advancer is capable of capturing the seal material and pulling the seal material into the apparatus. The seal advancer may further include a moveable seal transfer plate having at least one vacuum pad. The seal transfer plate is capable of holding the seal material against a top surface of the seal transfer plate. When the seal transfer plate moves, the seal material sticks to the top surface moving along with the moving seal transfer plate. The apparatus further includes a touch screen monitor capable of displaying temperature and time parameters. The apparatus also includes a heat plate for sealing the seal material onto a top surface of the microplate and a plate carrier for moving the microplate into the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Charles S. McCall, Nicholas R. Kalayjian, JonBen Bevirt, Eric J. Rollins, Brian M. Sheldon
  • Method and Apparatus for Locating a Golf Ball with Doppler Radar
    Publication number: 20110316733
    Abstract: A method comprises transmitting a radar signal into an target area, receiving reflected portions of the radar signal from the target area, and processing the reflected portions of the radar signal. The step of processing comprises windowing analog signals representative of the reflected portions of the radar signal, performing a fast Fourier transform on the windowed analog signals to produce an FFT result for each window, and obtaining the average of the FFT results from consecutive windows. In accordance with the method, a user receives indication from an indicator that a golf ball is present in the target area when the average of the FFT results corresponds to characteristics of the golf ball. The system comprises a radar transceiver, a processor for processing reflected portions of the radar signal, and an indicator indicating to the user a golf ball present in the target area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Dennis P. Bevirt, Kevin Hubbard
  • High Efficiency Hydrogen Fueled High Altitude Thermodynamic Fuel Cell System And Aircraft Using Same
    Publication number: 20230398905
    Abstract: A high efficiency hydrogen fuel system for an aircraft at high altitude which utilizes compressors to compress air to a sufficiently high pressure for the fuel cell. Liquid hydrogen is compressed and then utilized in heat exchangers to cool the compressed air, maintaining the air at a temperature low enough for the fuel cell. The hydrogen is also used to cool the fuel cell as it is also depressurized prior to its entry in the fuel cell cycle. A water condensation system allows for water removal from the airstream to reduce impacts to the atmosphere. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with VTOL aircraft, which may allow them to fly at higher elevations. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with other subsonic and supersonic aircraft, such as with asymmetric wing aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, JoeBen Bevirt, Robert Gulliver Lynn, Alex Stoll
  • SUCTION CUP FOR ROUGH SURFACES
    Publication number: 20080217493
    Abstract: A suction cup adapted to couple objects to rough surfaces includes a flexible sealing member, a backing member and a release mechanism. The sealing member is placed flush against a rough surface to form a low pressure region therebetween. The backing member is coupled to the sealing member and pulls a central portion of the sealing member away from the rough surface to create a suction hold. The release mechanism diminishes this suction hold when activated by a user. The sealing member material has a durometer rating of less than about 50, shore A. A rigid outer shell disposed above the sealing and backing members includes a rim to facilitate seal creation between the sealing member and the rough surface, and houses a portion of the release mechanism, which can include a button or lever adapted to push or pull the backing member toward or away from the rough surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: JOBY INTERNATIONAL SARL
    Inventor: JoeBen BEVIRT
  • Method and system for modeling aerodynamic interactions in complex eVTOL configurations for realtime flight simulations and hardware testing
    Patent number: 11721236
    Abstract: A method and system for modeling aerodynamic interactions in complex eVTOL configurations for realtime flight simulations and hardware testing which includes decomposing the aircraft into aerodynamic subcomponents, wherein the interactions between these components are handled by flow simulations of the surrounding fluid, which may be Euler flow CFD simulations. The system may be used as a flight simulator for pilot training in a realtime environment. The system may be used to support component testing using an interface to those components, such as flight electronics and actuators, to test the components in high fidelity simulations of actual flight demands on those components. The system may also be used to support design analysis in non-realtime to run numerous simulations on different designs and to provide comparative output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, JoeBen Bevirt, Alex Stoll, Jeremy Bain
  • Lightweight Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft and Flight Control Paradigm Using Thrust Differentials
    Publication number: 20110042510
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using the same set of engines for takeoff and landing as well as for forward flight. An aerial vehicle which uses a rotating platform of engines in fixed relationship to each other and which rotates relative to the main body of the vehicle for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to takeoff with the wings in a vertical as opposed to horizontal flight attitude which takes off in this vertical attitude and then transitions to a horizontal flight path. An aerial vehicle which controls the attitude of the vehicle during takeoff and landing by alternating the thrust of engines, which are separated in at least two dimensions relative to the horizontal during takeoff, and which may also control regular flight in some aspects by the use of differential thrust of the engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: JOEBEN BEVIRT, David D. Craig, Jeffrey K. Gibboney, Matthew Peddie
  • Mounting apparatus using ball and socket joints with composite connectors
    Patent number: 8297566
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards ball and socket joint connectors which, when interconnected, form a flexible assembly. Each connector includes a body with a first and second end portion. An external socket engaging surface is provided at one end of the body. The other end of the body has an internal cavity. The socket engaging surface of one connector is snapped into the internal cavity of another to interconnect the connectors. The internal cavity end portion may be of a material that is less subject to creep, and which may have high stiffness. The socket end portion may be made of a softer material that allows for sufficient deflection to allow for mating but is not as subject to creep as this portion is predominantly in compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Day Men US, Inc
    Inventor: JoeBen Bevirt
  • Compact offset outrunner harmonic drive rotary actuator and deployment system using same
    Patent number: 11942855
    Abstract: A compact harmonic drive system with a motor residing within the flexspline cup. The motor may reside further into the flexspline cup than the wave generator, and the air gap of the motor may be further out radially than the interior of the wave generator bearing. The motor may use an outrunner configuration with an outboard rotor made up of magnets, allowing for a large radial distance to the air gap and resulting in higher torque. The interior stator windings are thermally well coupled to the drive system structure. The harmonic drive may be coupled to a deployment system adapted to support moment loads perpendicular to the rotation axis such that those loads are not supported by the harmonic drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordin Gischler, Baixi Pei, Rob Thodal, JoeBen Bevirt
  • Method and apparatus for locating a golf ball with doppler radar
    Patent number: 8400346
    Abstract: A method comprises transmitting a radar signal into an target area, receiving reflected portions of the radar signal from the target area, and processing the reflected portions of the radar signal. The step of processing comprises windowing analog signals representative of the reflected portions of the radar signal, performing a fast Fourier transform on the windowed analog signals to produce an FFT result for each window, and obtaining the average of the FFT results from consecutive windows. In accordance with the method, a user receives indication from an indicator that a golf ball is present in the target area when the average of the FFT results corresponds to characteristics of the golf ball. The system comprises a radar transceiver, a processor for processing reflected portions of the radar signal, and an indicator indicating to the user a golf ball present in the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Glass Wind, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Hubbard, Dennis P. Bevirt
  • VTOL Aircraft
    Publication number: 20230166838
    Abstract: The aircraft can include: an airframe, a tilt mechanism, a payload housing, and can optionally include an impact attenuator, a set of ground support members (e.g., struts), a set of power sources, and a set of control elements. The airframe can include: a set of rotors and a set of support members. By utilizing a larger rotor blade area (and/or larger rotor disc area) and adjusting the blade pitch and RPM, the rotors can augment the lift generated by the aerodynamic profile of the aircraft in the forward flight mode in addition to providing forward thrust. Variants generating lift with the rotors can reduce or eliminate additional control surfaces (e.g., wing flaps, ailerons, ruddervators, elevators, rudder, etc.) on the aircraft since the thrust and motor torque is controllable (thereby indirectly controlling lift) at each rotor, thereby enabling pitch, yaw, and/or roll control during forward flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, Alex Stoll, JoeBen Bevirt
  • VTOL Aircraft
    Publication number: 20230365256
    Abstract: The aircraft can include: an airframe, a tilt mechanism, a payload housing, and can optionally include an impact attenuator, a set of ground support members (e.g., struts), a set of power sources, and a set of control elements. The airframe can include: a set of rotors and a set of support members. By utilizing a larger rotor blade area (and/or larger rotor disc area) and adjusting the blade pitch and RPM, the rotors can augment the lift generated by the aerodynamic profile of the aircraft in the forward flight mode in addition to providing forward thrust. Variants generating lift with the rotors can reduce or eliminate additional control surfaces (e.g., wing flaps, ailerons, ruddervators, elevators, rudder, etc.) on the aircraft since the thrust and motor torque is controllable (thereby indirectly controlling lift) at each rotor, thereby enabling pitch, yaw, and/or roll control during forward flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, Alex Stoll, JoeBen Bevirt
  • TEMPERATURE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR BATTERY CELL
    Publication number: 20230299382
    Abstract: A battery cell that includes a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes is provided. The battery cell has a pouch laminate disposed over the plurality of anodes and the plurality of cathodes along with a temperature control mechanism centrally located within the pouch laminate. The temperature control mechanism is disposed between anodes of the plurality of anodes and cathodes of the plurality of cathodes such that the temperature control mechanism is centrally located within battery cell. The temperature control mechanism can regulate a temperature of the battery cell while also regulate an amount of pressure applied to the plurality of anodes and cathodes. The temperature control mechanism can include passageways through which heat transfer fluid can pass that be used to regulate the temperature and the pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Marc Juzkow, Edward Thomas Sweet, Austin L. Newman, Pum Sang Cho, Ernest Villanueva, JoeBen Bevirt, Luigi Abbate, Jon Wagner
  • VTOL aircraft
    Patent number: 11753159
    Abstract: The aircraft can include: an airframe, a tilt mechanism, a payload housing, and can optionally include an impact attenuator, a set of ground support members (e.g., struts), a set of power sources, and a set of control elements. The airframe can include: a set of rotors and a set of support members. By utilizing a larger rotor blade area (and/or larger rotor disc area) and adjusting the blade pitch and RPM, the rotors can augment the lift generated by the aerodynamic profile of the aircraft in the forward flight mode in addition to providing forward thrust. Variants generating lift with the rotors can reduce or eliminate additional control surfaces (e.g., wing flaps, ailerons, ruddervators, elevators, rudder, etc.) on the aircraft since the thrust and motor torque is controllable (thereby indirectly controlling lift) at each rotor, thereby enabling pitch, yaw, and/or roll control during forward flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, Alex Stoll, JoeBen Bevirt
  • Plate stacker apparatus
    Patent number: 6193102
    Abstract: A plate stacker is described for use in the field of sample analysis. The plate stacker increases the rate and ease with which sample carriers such as microwell plates may be interfaced with an automated system and includes a removable rack attached to a base to allow plates to be transported to and from an automated system. The stacker rack includes a door which allows for a compact stacker thus allowing manipulation of the microwell plates in a compact area. Generally, the plate stacker provides a means to allow a user to interface with an automated system. The rack portion of the stacker allows the user to load and unload microwell plates into the system in batches by loading or unloading multiple individual plates into or out of the rack. The base portion allows the automated system to load and unload individual microwell plates from the stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Gabriel Noah Brinton
  • High Efficiency Hydrogen Fueled High Altitude Thermodynamic Fuel Cell System And Aircraft Using Same
    Publication number: 20220009379
    Abstract: A high efficiency hydrogen fuel system for an aircraft at high altitude which utilizes compressors to compress air to a sufficiently high pressure for the fuel cell. Liquid hydrogen is compressed and then utilized in heat exchangers to cool the compressed air, maintaining the air at a temperature low enough for the fuel cell. The hydrogen is also used to cool the fuel cell as it is also depressurized prior to its entry in the fuel cell cycle. A water condensation system allows for water removal from the airstream to reduce impacts to the atmosphere. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with VTOL aircraft, which may allow them to fly at higher elevations. The hydrogen fuel system may be used with other subsonic and supersonic aircraft, such as with asymmetric wing aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Gregor Veble Mikic, JoeBen Bevirt, Robert Gulliver Lynn, Alex Stoll
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