Toolz, Ltd.

Enact Health Management Systems

Other

Twill Technology, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Company

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Robotoolz Limited

Shearwater Investment Company

Sonitrack Systems, Inc.

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Trutag Technologies, Inc.

Robert Bosch Co., Ltd.

Design To Manufacturing, Inc.

D2m International Pty Ltd.

Churkendoose, Incorporated

Christopher Tacklind

Andrew G Butler

Cameron Tacklind

Eugene F Duval

Geoffrey B Walne

Matthew H Sanders

Wolfgang Ott

Aragon Burlingham

Jonathan Carver

Thomas Zimmerman

William Mitchell Scott

Anatoly I Gosis

Daniel Thomas Adams

David H Titzler

John Edwin Johnston

Edward J Cooper

Folkert Fred Koch

Nelson Au

Brian Whitney Lamb

Scott Takayuki Koizumi

Jeffrey Schlosser

Daniel Shaffer

William F Carlsen, Jr

R Brooke Hanson

Blake Tacklind

Jeff Hayashida

Lance Reisman

Rick Feffer

John D Meyer

Timothy Learmonth

David K Donald

Zinovy Dolgonosov

Howard H Taub

Michael P O'Neill

Nelson S Au

Vae E Sun

John L Vaught

Arthur M Pfeiffer

David Shepherd

Frank L Cloutier

Thomas Joseph Currier

James M Zeiszler

Gene Duval

Sergey Etchin

Christopher Perrott

Michael D Haas

Thomas J Currier

Jon Carver

William Scott

Dan Adams

Techniques are disclosed for exploiting modern controls, sensors and actuators to realize a novel family of in-line two-wheeled vehicles (Twills) as robots. Each robot has a front-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and a substantially vertical steering axis. The front-wheel with its substantially vertical steering axis has a steering-angle that can be sensed by one or more sensors. There is a rear-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. A control module stabilizes the roll angle when the robot is in a forward motion as well as when it is substantially or fully stopped. One or both the wheels of the robot may be endowed by a steering motor for steering and a traction motor for providing traction/torque to the wheel.

Two-wheel in-line robots

A family of vehicles is presented which exploit dynamic controls to stabilize in-line two wheeled vehicles. The stabilization results in improved safety at high speeds and on uncooperative surfaces. Stabilization affords balance at zero speed without auxiliary support means. Transformational wheel base length affords high visibility at low speeds and low drag at high speeds. In wheel chair configurations transforming wheel base length allows navigation up and down stairs.

Dynamically balanced in-line wheel vehicle

A carrier platform with a suspension mechanism and suspension methods for supporting a vibration-sensitive load including humans and sensitive objects or cargo in a vehicle such as a terrestrial vehicle, a marine vehicle or aircraft. The suspension mechanism deploys a set of linkage elements for accommodating linear motion of the carrier platform in a vertical linear degree of freedom (Z-axis) and in two horizontal linear degrees of freedom (X- and Y-axes). The suspension mechanism uses springs attached to the carrier platform for biasing it along the vertical linear degree of freedom. The suspension mechanism also has an active damping device with a set of motors to dampen vibrations experienced by the carrier platform in at least one translational degree of freedom.

Carrier platform with suspension mechanism for supporting a vibration-sensitive load on a vehicle

A berth apparatus and method for promoting relaxation and/or inducing sleep in a recumbent passenger occupying a berth belonging to the berth apparatus. The apparatus is mounted in a vehicle and has a secondary suspension with a vibration detection system and a motion management system. The berth may execute motion in all six degrees of freedom with at least the vertical degree of freedom being monitored for unwanted motion. The motion management system has a motion removing component for removing unwanted motion in at least the vertical degree of freedom, and it also has a motion adding component to add to the berth a desirable motion of low frequency and small amplitude in at least one degree of freedom based on a physiological parameter, e.g., the inhalation cycle of the recumbent passenger. The apparatus and method may further use a vibration transfer element to transfer motion in one degree of freedom, such as horizontal displacement, to another degree of freedom, such as roll.

Berth apparatus and methods using physiological parameters for controlling berth motion to promote relaxation and to induce sleep

Techniques are disclosed for exploiting modern controls, sensors and actuators to realize a novel family of in-line two-wheeled vehicles (Twills) as robots. Each robot has a front-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and a substantially vertical steering axis. The front-wheel with its substantially vertical steering axis has a steering-angle that can be sensed by one or more sensors. There is a rear-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. A control module stabilizes the roll angle when the robot is in a forward motion or when it is stopped. There is an energy source to power the controls and to drive one or both the front and rear wheels.

A repositionable, lockable support arm assembly for surgical and other tools includes a base arm having a lower end and an upper end, a distal arm having a proximal end and a distal end, and a central joint, typically a rotational joint, directly or indirectly linking the upper end of the base arm to the proximal end of the distal arm. A lower joint, typically a spherical joint, is positioned at the lower end of the base arm, and an upper joint, also typically a spherical joint, is located at the distal end of the distal arm. A locking mechanism is coupled to the base arm at a location above the lower joint and is configured to simultaneously deliver locking forces to the lower joint, to the rotational joint, and to the upper joint. The kicking mechanism usually includes a powered, bilateral force generator for actuating the locking mechanism.

Rapidly repositionable powered support arm

A novel robotic platform is presented with the characteristics of only two wheels establishing a stable and unstable axis. Stability of the unstable axis is provided by controlling the steering while driving in the direction of the stable axis. Stability while stopped is provided by setting one or both of the wheels oblique to the stable axis and controlling the traction angle of the wheels. High control authority is thus provided while standing and while underway without sensitivity to the driving surface.

Two wheel in-line robots

A repositionable, lockable support arm assembly for surgical and other tools includes a base arm having a lower end and an upper end, a distal arm having a proximal end and a distal end, and a central joint, typically a rotational joint, directly or indirectly linking the upper end of the base arm to the proximal end of the distal arm. A lower joint, typically a spherical joint, is positioned at the lower end of the base arm, and an upper joint, also typically a spherical joint, is located at the distal end of the distal arm, A locking mechanism is coupled to the base arm at a location above the lower joint and is configured to simultaneously deliver locking forces to the lower joint, to the rotational joint, and to the upper joint. The locking mechanism usually includes a powered, bilateral force generator for actuating the locking mechanism.

A sample holder comprises a bottom and one or more arms. The bottom has an initial area for supporting a sample. The one or more arms actuate to move the sample in the initial area to a target area, wherein the one or more arms hold the sample.

Centering holder for optical interrogation

A method of brewing a coffee beverage by combining a dose of granulated coffee and water and maintaining the granulated coffee in the water for a brew time. The volume of water employed in practicing the method is a function of the dose of granulated coffee and the brew time is a function of the percent extraction of coffee from the dose of granulated coffee and a function of the percent of total dissolved solids derived from the dose of granulated coffee.

Method for determining coffee brewing parameters and coffee brewing parameters developed thereby

A device for brewing coffee. The device includes a microprocessor, a user actuated controller for interfacing with the microprocessor, a tank for retaining water and a heating element for selectively heating the water. The device further includes a brewing basket for receipt of water from the tank, and a cone valve located in a dispersing end of the brewing basket. The microprocessor dictates a measured quantity of water to be delivered to the brewing basket in conjunction with a measured amount of ground coffee for brewing. In a preferred embodiment, a multichannel valve is employed together with a suitable pump for controlling fluid flow as dictated by the microprocessor.

Device for metering coffee brewing

An extendable edge reference tool is disclosed. A first segment having a extending end and a receptacle end is provided. The receptacle end includes a coupling mechanism for joining a second segment using an over-center locking force to secure said second segment to said first segment. This tool provides for a useful continuous reference edge over extended distances through adjoining segments. Each segment is suitably compact to be easy stowed. The segments are useful individually. The segments can be joined to extend tool to lengths useful in common construction tasks.

Extendable edge reference tool

An aircraft powering system is provided which includes an aircraft electrical connector is provided with features to allow facile engagement with an aircraft and strong retention forces. The aircraft powering system may include the aircraft electrical connector having a unique biasing mechanism and modular construction, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to place differential forces onto mating electrical connectors from an aircraft. The biasing mechanism may be operatively coupled to a handle or trigger, which may be easily engageable by an operator.

Aircraft electrical connector with differential engagement and operational retention forces

An aircraft electrical connector is provided with features to allow facile engagement with an aircraft and strong retention forces. The aircraft electrical system may include the aircraft electrical connector having a unique biasing mechanism and modular construction, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to place differential forces onto mating electrical connectors from an aircraft. The biasing mechanism may be operatively coupled to a handle or trigger, which may be easily engageable by an operator. In one embodiment, an electrical connector may include a cam plate disposed between electrical connectors. The cam plate is configured to place differential forces on mating connectors inserted into the electrical connectors. In another embodiment, an electrical connector includes a moveable shaft that is disposed between electrical connectors. The shaft is configured to bias the position of the electrical connectors to place differential engagement and retention forces on mating connectors inserted into the electrical connectors.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Christopher Tacklind