Patents
US 11904459 B2: Robot and coupling joint suitable for use with daylighting systems or solar tracking system
- Granted
- 2024-02-20
- Filed
- 2019-03-08 application 16968989
- Type
- Utility · 19 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
A robotic coupling joint system and method are discussed herein, which may be utilized with a daylighting system or photovoltaic system to track sunlight. The system may provide a spherical joint allowing axial motion about two or more axes of the spherical joint. The joint comprises a first plate with four or more sockets, a second plate, a connector, and one or more spheres positioned between the first and second plates. The connector secures the sphere between the first and second plates. The system may also include a stand, an end effector coupled to the stand by the spherical joint, and a mobility system that is capable of actuating the end effector. The mobility system includes two or more linking elements coupled to the end effector, and a motor coupled to the linking elements to actuate the end effector to track sunlight.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg240220.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State University 22 patents | US company or organization | San Marcos, TX | Texas State University College or university EXACT high confidence: identical full name and state | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricardo Mateo Ramirez, III | San Marcos, TX | 8 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Bahram Asiabanpour | San Marcos, TX | 4 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| B25J | Manipulators; chambers provided with manipulation devices | B25J17/02 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| F16C | Shafts; flexible shafts; elements or crankshaft mechanisms; rotary bodies other than gearing elements; bearings | F16C11/04 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| F16M | Frames, casings or beds of engines, machines or apparatus, not specific to engines, machines or apparatus provided for elsewhere; stands; supports | F16M11/06 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| F24S | Solar heat collectors; solar heat systems | F24S30/40 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| H02S | Generation of electric power by conversion of infrared radiation, visible light or ultraviolet light, e.g. using photovoltaic [pv] modules | H02S20/32 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| Y02E | Reduction of greenhouse gas [ghg] emissions, related to energy generation, transmission or distribution | Y02E10/47 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
No recorded assignments or security interests on file for this patent.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.