Case Western Reserve University

Becker Orthopedic Appliance Company, Inc.

Dynamotors, Inc.

Wyatt S Newman

Arthur H Heuer

James D Cawley

Jonathan M Naft

William M Jones

James Campbell

Nicholas C Zalinski

Robert G Kilmo

Douglas A Toman

Samuel A Bell

Sam Bell

An example method includes storing marking data to specify at least one selected marking to apply at a target location along a vehicle path of travel, the marking data including a machine-readable description and a marking reference coordinate frame for the selected marking. The method also includes generating task plan data to apply the selected marking based on the marking data and at least one parameter of an application tool. The method also includes determining a location and orientation of the application tool with respect to the vehicle path of travel based on location data representing a current location of a vehicle carrying the application tool. The method also includes computing a joint-space trajectory to enable the application tool to apply the selected marking at the target location based on the task plan data and the determined location of the application tool.

Systems and methods to apply markings

A selectively lockable orthotic joint is provided in which a pressure sensor having a thin layer of variably resistive material generates a control signal when an actuation force is applied to the sensor. An electronic circuit operatively connects the sensor to a mechanical orthotic joint that can be selectively locked and unlocked in response to the control signal. The control signal may be uniform in strength selectively locking and unlocking the joint. The control signal may also be variable in strength wherein the orthotic joint provides increasing or decreasing resistance to motion responsive to a corresponding increase or decrease in control signal strength. The device is suitable for use as a foot/ankle/leg orthotic having a foot sensor which selectively operates a mechanical knee joint.

Orthosis knee joint and sensor

Brushless repulsion motors are presented, in which rotor coils switching signal detectors are selectively located in spaced angular relationship on the rotor and signaling sources are distributed around all or most of the stator circumference to allow looser tolerances for motor manufacturing and improved controllability of rotor coil actuation during operation. Asymmetric stator poles are also provided for brushless repulsion motors to mitigate torque ripple and vibration, in which the shape of the stator pole tips is tailored by varying the angular length of the pole section.

Signaling and reduced torque ripple in brushless repulsion motors

A selectively lockable orthotic joint is provided that in one embodiment includes at least one pressure sensor and an electronic circuit associated with the pressure sensor for generating or providing a control signal indicative of pressure, force or other value sensed by the sensor. A mechanical orthotic joint is provided that has a locking mechanism that can be selectively locked and unlocked in response to the control signal.

Orthosis knee joint

An apparatus for forming an integral three-dimensional object from a plurality of individual laminations includes a cutting surface on which each of the laminations is individually deposited. A concentrated energy source cuts each of the plurality of laminations into a shape required for assembly of the laminations into the integral three-dimensional object. A transfer mechanism removes each of the cut laminations from the cutting surface and stacks each of the cut laminations on an assembly surface. The transfer mechanism includes a gripper face having a peripheral portion and a central portion. A mask is positioned on the gripper face. The mask has an apertured central portion corresponding to the cut lamination. A source of suction communicates with the gripper face and a valve mechanism selectively draws a suction on the gripper face peripheral portion, the gripper face central portion, both or neither. An electronic control device is provided for controlling the operation of the cutting surface, the concentrated energy cutter and the transfer mechanism.

Selective vacuum gripper

A method for manufacturing an integral three dimensional object from laminations includes the steps of fabricating a plurality of first sheets of a first material composition, cutting each of the first sheets to form a contoured layer representing a cross-section of the three dimensional object and to form a waste material and discarding the waste material. The contoured layers are stacked in a desired sequence to form a stack of contoured layers which are then laminated. Subsequently, the contoured layers of the stack are secured to each other to form the integral three dimensional object. This method works particularly well with ceramic material sheets. If desired, a second type of sheet made of a fugitive material can also be cut to form a contoured layer representing a void in a cross-section of the three dimensional object. The contoured layers of the second sheets are then stacked along with the contoured layers of the first sheets to form the object. The laminated stack of contoured layers is then sintered. During processing, fugitive material can be removed, leaving voids in the three dimensional object.

Growing community of inventors

Cleveland Heights, OH, United States of America

Wyatt S Newman