Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Miga Technologies. LLC

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Brian J Pinkelman

Umesh N Gandhi

Ryohei Tsuruta

Paul A Gilmore

Mark A Gummin

Michael Paul Rowe

Shailesh N Joshi

Shardul S Panwar

Yufei Zhu

Rajendra Singh

Nicholas P Mastricola

Danil V Prokhorov

Todd Muck

Eric W Smith

Ryan M Wiesenberg

Brian J Stasey

Herbert Meingast

Frederick W Mau, Ii

Trey Souchock

Recep M Gorguluarslan

Mark E Smith

A chair can be configured for synchronized movement with visual content, such as a video game or movie, presented on a display. The chair can include a seat portion. A plurality of actuators can be operatively positioned to cause a movement of the seat portion. The actuators can include one or more shape memory material members. Each of the actuators being configured such that, when an activation input is provided to the one or more shape memory material members, the one or more shape memory material members change from a first configuration to a second configuration and cause the actuator to morph into an activated configuration. One or more processors operatively connected to selectively activate one or more of the actuators by causing the activation input to be provided to the one or more shape memory material members of at least one of the actuators.

Chair with shape memory material-based movement synchronized with visual content

An actuator can include one or more shape memory material members. When an activation input is provided to the one or more shape memory material members, the one or more shape memory material members contract, which causes the actuator to morph into an activated configuration. A height of the actuator increases in the activated configuration. The actuator can include a first outer body member and a second outer body member. The first outer body member can include a first portion and a second portion pivotably connected to each other. One or more processors can be operatively connected to selectively activate the one or more shape memory material members.

Shape memory material member-based actuator

An actuator can include an outer body. At least a portion of the outer body can be configured to pivot. The actuator can include a contracting member, such as a shape memory material member. When an activation input is provided to the contracting member, the contracting member can contract. As a result, the actuator can be caused to morph into an activated configuration in which a dimension, such as the height, of the actuator increases.

Actuator with contracting member

A state of a shape memory material member in an actuator can be monitored and controlled to protect the shape memory material member. When activated, the actuator can be configured to morph into an activated configuration in which a dimension (e.g., the height) of the actuator increases. A sensor configured to acquire sensor data. A portion of the shape memory material member can operatively engaging the sensor. One or more processors can be operatively connected to monitor a state of the shape memory material member based on the sensor data.

Monitoring a state of a shape memory material member

An apparatus includes at least two disk spring washers, at least one ring-shaped outer spacer coupled to the outer edges of one or two of the disk spring washers, and at least one ring-shaped inner spacer coupled to the inner edges of one or two of the disk spring washers. The apparatus also includes a central shaft concentric with the disk spring washers, the outer spacers, and the inner spacers. The apparatus also includes a bottom attachment portion coupled to the bottom of the central shaft to support the at least two disk spring washers, and a top attachment portion configured to slide vertically along the central shaft. The top attachment portion is configured to, with an application of a downward force, compress the at least two disk spring washers.

Stacked disk spring vibration isolator with increased lateral load capacity

A fluid transport system that includes a magnetic shape memory pipe having an input end opposite an output end and an outer surface opposite an inner surface. The inner surface defines an inner diameter of the magnetic shape memory pipe and the magnetic shape memory pipe includes a magnetic shape memory alloy. The fluid transport system further includes one or more magnetic field generating devices surrounding the outer surface of the magnetic shape memory pipe and configured to generate a control magnetic field that, when applied to a region of the magnetic shape memory pipe, alters the inner diameter of the region of the magnetic shape memory pipe.

Fluid transport systems comprising a magnetic shape memory pipe

A rotating machine system include a rotating machine. The rotating machine system can include a housing. The housing can include an inner surface. The housing can surround at least a portion of the rotating machine. The inner surface of the housing can be spaced from the rotating machine such that a space is defined therebetween. The rotating machine system can include a plurality of vibration isolators. The vibration isolators can be positioned in the space and can be operatively connected to the rotating machine and to the inner surface of the housing. The vibration isolators can be compression-type vibration isolators.

Vibration isolation for rotating machines

A vehicle seat can be configured to provide support to a vehicle occupant in conditions when lateral acceleration is experienced. Shape memory material members can be operatively positioned with respect to a seat portion of the vehicle seat. The shape memory material members can be selectively activated by an activation input. When activated, the shape memory material members can engage a seat pan so as to cause the seat pan to tilt in a respective lateral direction. As a result, a seat cushion supported by the seat pan can also tilt in the respective lateral direction. The seat cushion can be tilted in a lateral direction that is opposite to the direction of the lateral acceleration. Thus, the effects of lateral acceleration felt by a seat occupant can be reduced. The shape memory material members can be selectively activated based on vehicle speed, steering angle, and/or lateral acceleration.

Seat with shape memory material member actuation

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat frame, a seat pan, and a plurality of vibration isolators interposed between the seat frame and the seat pan for limiting transmission of vibrations from the seat frame to the seat pan.

Vehicle seat assembly incorporating quasi-zero/negative stiffness vibration isolators

Vehicle seat with tilting seat portion

A saddle for a bicycle can be configured to provide improved vibration isolation performance. The saddle can include a saddle body. The saddle can include a plurality of isolators. The plurality of isolators can be operatively connected to the saddle body. Each of the plurality of isolators can include a stack of a plurality of conical springs. The stack of the plurality of conical springs does not include a central shaft.

Bicycle saddle with vibration isolators

A cargo organizer is constructed from one or more bi-stable strips with at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator per bi-stable strip. The cargo organizer can reside in the bi-stable strips elongated (flat) stable state and require little or no volume of the cargo compartment that it resides. Upon actuating a SMA actuator, the rapid conversion to the curved stable state can occur with the formation of a barrier to partition the cargo compartment into at least to portions. The transformation into the flat stable state removes the partition where the transformation can be via a second SMA actuator or manually. The cargo organizer can be incorporated into the cargo compartment in a manner that it translates from one site and orientation to one or more other sites or orientations by activation an actuator that can be an additional SMA actuator.

Morphing trunk organizer using SMA enhanced bi-stable strips

Systems and methods for limiting transmission of vibrations and forces causing vibrations from one element to another are provided. A vibration isolator may include a compressible inner member and an outer member compressible with the inner member. The outer member may be positioned at least partially around the inner member to provide lateral support to the inner member. The outer member may maintain a consistent diameter and compression force when in a compressed state. The outer member may include a tube with a zero or near-zero Poisson's ratio.

Vibration isolator with zero Poisson's ratio outer tube

A multi-stable actuator includes a first superelastic-shape memory alloy (SE-SMA) wire extending between a first fixed support and a movable element and a second SE-SMA wire extending between a second fixed support and the movable element. The first SE-SMA wire is in tension against the second SE-SMA wire and the second SE-SMA wire is in tension against the first SE-SMA wire. The multi-stable actuator also includes at least one heating device configured to heat the first SE-SMA wire independent of the second SE-SMA wire and to heat the second SE-SMA wire independent of the first SE-SMA wire such that the movable element moves between and to at least three fixed positions without use of a brake or clutch.

Multi-stable actuator

A vibration isolator includes a first conical disc spring member having a first end and a second end. A first-end spacer in contact with the first spring member first end, and a second-end spacer in contact with the first spring member second end. A second conical disc spring member has a first end and a second end. The second spring member first end is in contact with the first-end spacer. Another second-end spacer is in contact with the second spring member second end. A flexible housing of the isolator defines an interior. The housing is in contact with and extends between the second-end spacer and the other second-end spacer so that the first-end spacer and the first and second spring members are received in the housing interior. The housing includes a plurality of spaced-apart through holes formed therealong between the second-end spacer and the other second-end spacer.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Brian J Pinkelman