IP Library Granted Patent US 10,801,166
Granted Patent B2
US 10,801,166 · App. 16/549,753 · Granted Oct 13, 2020

Dynamic paver device with vibration feedback

Inventors: Samara Trilling (New York, NY); Thomas Joseph Kennedy (Brooklyn, NY)
Assignee: Sidewalk Labs LLC
E01C15/00E01C5/065E01C5/18E01C11/00E01C17/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,801,166
App. No.
16/549,753
Granted
Oct 13, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dynamic paver device with vibration feedback is provided. In some embodiments, a paver device comprises: a paver having a top surface and a bottom surface; a paver frame that creates an interior cavity upon being connected with the paver; at least one pressure sensor connected to the paver, wherein the at least one pressure sensor detects a change in an amount of pressure applied to the top surface of the paver; a vibration system connected to the bottom surface of the paver, wherein the vibration system is configured to provide a vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver; and a controller connected to the at least one pressure sensor and the vibration system, wherein the controller is configured to: receive, from the at least one pressure sensor, a presence indication of an object on the top surface of the paver based on the detected change in the amount of pressure being applied to the top surface of the paver at a first time; and, in response to receiving the presence indication from the at least one pressure sensor, transmit a first signal to the vibration system that causes the vibration system to provide the vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver.

Claims (37)

1. A paver device comprising:

a paver having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a paver frame that is flexibly mounted to the paver and that creates an interior cavity upon being connected with the paver;

at least one pressure sensor connected to the paver, wherein the at least one pressure sensor detects a change in an amount of pressure applied to the top surface of the paver;

a vibration system connected to the bottom surface of the paver, wherein the vibration system is configured to provide a vibrational force to one or more portions of the paver frame or the bottom surface of the paver; and

a controller connected to the at least one pressure sensor and the vibration system, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, from the at least one pressure sensor, a presence indication of an object on the top surface of the paver based on the detected change in the amount of pressure being applied to the top surface of the paver at a first time; and

in response to receiving the presence indication from the at least one pressure sensor, transmit a first signal to the vibration system that causes the vibration system to provide the vibrational force to one or more portions of the paver frame or the bottom surface of the paver.

2. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the paver is a precast concrete slab formed in a hexagonal shape.

3. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the paver is a rubber paver formed in a hexagonal shape.

4. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the paver is a porous paver formed in a hexagonal shape.

5. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the paver and the paver frame each have a hexagonal shape and form a hexagonal prism having the interior cavity when the paver and the paver frame are connected.

6. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the paver is flexibly mounted to the paver frame using one or more springs, and wherein the vibration system is configured to provide the vibrational force to the one or more springs.

7. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the paver is constructed from a first material and the paver frame is constructed from a second material, and wherein the first material is different than the second material.

8. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor is positioned within the interior cavity.

9. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor is connected to the bottom surface of the paver.

10. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the presence indication is received from the at least one pressure sensor in response to determining that the change in the amount of pressure is greater than a threshold amount.

11. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the vibration system includes an electrodynamic coil that generates the vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver, and wherein the electrodynamic coil is connected to a power source.

12. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the vibration system includes a spring-loaded coil that is connected to a mass, and wherein the mass contacts the bottom surface of the paver via the spring-loaded coil.

13. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that a particular amount of time has elapsed; and

in response to the determining that the particular amount of time has elapsed, transmit a second signal to the vibration system that causes the vibration system to inhibit the vibrational force from continuing to be applied to the bottom surface of the paver.

14. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive an instruction

to provide the vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver.

15. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected to an additional paver that is adjacent to the paver, and wherein the controller is further configured to transmit instructions to provide the vibrational force to the paver and the additional paver.

16. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is connected to a power source.

17. The paver device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a second signal to the vibration system that causes the vibration system to inhibit the vibrational force from continuing to be applied to the bottom surface of the paver based on an updated change in the amount of pressure being applied to the top surface of the paver at a second time.

18. The paver device of claim 17 , wherein the updated change in the amount of pressure indicates that the object is stationary on the top surface of the paver, and wherein the second signal is transmitted to the vibration system that causes the vibration system to provide a different vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver.

19. The paver device of claim 17 , wherein the updated change in the amount of pressure indicates that the object is continuing to move, and wherein the second signal is transmitted to the vibration system that causes the vibration system to provide a different vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver.

20. A paver device comprising:

a paver having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a paver frame that creates an interior cavity upon being connected with the paver;

an optical sensor that detects presence of an object on the top surface of the paver, wherein the optical sensor is configured to receive image data relating to one or more objects on the top surface of the paver;

a vibration system connected to the bottom surface of the paver, wherein the vibration system is configured to provide a vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver; and

a controller connected to the optical sensor and the vibration system, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, from the optical sensor, a presence indication of the object on the top surface of the paver based on the received image data relating to the one or more objects on the top surface of the paver; and

in response to receiving the presence indication from the optical sensor, transmit a first signal to the vibration system that causes the vibration system to provide the vibrational force to the bottom surface of the paver.

Assignments (1)
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 21, 2022
From: SIDEWALK LABS LLC
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 061972/0510 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62722140 · Aug 23, 2018
Related Publication 20200063381A1 · Feb 27, 2020