Did You Know...
...that after Parker Brothers executives turned down the game of Monopoly because it had "52 fundamental errors" (including taking too long to play), a copy of the game wound up in the home of the company president who stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish playing it? He was so impressed by the game that the next day he wrote to inventor Charles Darrow and offered to buy it!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8094351 | Fibrous micro-composite material Fibrous micro-composite materials are formed from micro fibers. The fibrous micro-composite materials are utilized as the basis for a new class of MEMS. In addition to simple fiber composites and microlaminates, fibrous hollow and/or solid braids, can be used in str... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8076820 | High energy density electro-osmotic pump and actuator An electro-osmotic pump includes a pump chamber having a wall fabricated of an electric double layer material, the surface area of the electric double layer material being high relative to the volume of the chamber. An electric potential applied across the material ... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8053947 | Device for converting thermal energy into electrical energy A current source and method of producing the current source are provided. The current source includes a metal source, a buffer layer, a filter and a collector. An electrical connection is provided to the metal layer and semiconductor layer and a magnetic field appli... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8004146 | Electrically conductive thin film formed from an ionic liquid and carbon nanotubes having a high aspect ratio, and actuator element comprising the thin film The present invention provides an actuator exhibiting improved performance. The actuator is formed of an electrically conductive thin film formed from an ionic liquid and carbon nanotubes having an aspect ratio of not less than 104; or an electrically con... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7994685 | Electromechanical transducer—artificial muscle The function of the key element of the SMA, is based on a mutual alternating slipping of two systems of filaments. Its contraction is caused by the attractive effect of van der Waal's forces between the functional particles among the filaments. The relaxation is att... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7863798 | Nanocrystal powered nanomotor A nanoscale nanocrystal which may be used as a reciprocating motor is provided, comprising a substrate having an energy differential across it, e.g. an electrical connection to a voltage source at a proximal end; an atom reservoir on the substrate distal to the elec... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7548009 | Miniature motor A miniature motor includes an actuator and a transmission assembly. The actuator includes a chamber, an electrically conductive aqueous layer, a dielectric oily layer and two electrodes. The aqueous and oily layers are accommodated in the chamber. The oily layer con... | 06/16/2009 |
| 7511402 | Polymer actuator A polymer actuator is provided. The polymer actuator includes a plurality of gel/electrode complexes arranged in an electrolytic solution, wherein the gel/electrode complex is composed of a polymeric hydrogel containing acidic or basic functional groups and electrod... | 03/31/2009 |
| 7495368 | Bimorphic structures, sensor structures formed therewith, and methods therefor A bimorphic structure responsive to changes in an environmental condition, sensor structures incorporating one or more of such bimorphic structures, and a method of forming such bimorphic structures. The sensor structure has an electrically-conductive first contact ... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7482727 | Composite material with conductive nanowires A composite material exhibiting at least one of a negative effective permittivity and a negative effective permeability for incident radiation at an operating wavelength is described. The composite material comprises a dielectric layer generally parallel to a dielec... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7432630 | High power-to-mass ratio actuator A method for driving an actuator. The method includes applying an electrical potential across an electrostrictive material relative to a counterelectrode disposed within an electrolyte, thereby creating a double layer potential across a region of enhanced ionic conc... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7371962 | Diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer An improved diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer is formed using nanostructures and includes identifiable regions associated with chemical reactions isolated chemically from other regions in the converter, a region associated with an ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7361430 | Carbon nanotube-polymer composite actuators The present invention discloses a carbon nanotube (SWNT)-polymer composite actuator and method to make such actuator. A series of uniform composites was prepared by dispersing purified single wall nanotubes with varying weight percents into a polymer matrix, followe... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7362032 | Electroactive polymer devices for moving fluid The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, su... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7331468 | Device for separating fine solid components, method of manufacturing the device, and method of separating fine solid components using the device A device for separating a fine solid component includes a substrate and a diaphragm provided on the substrate. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The substrate has a recess provided in the second surface, a cavity open... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7315106 | Actuator element and production method therefor An actuator element which functions stably in air and in vacuo, and can be driven at low voltages is described. A actuator element which includes at least two electrode layers, each of which is mutually insulated and comprises a gel composition comprising carbon nan... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7288871 | Solid-in-hollow polymer fiber electrochemical devices A linear electrochemical actuator is described where at least one electrically conductive (between 400 and 1000 S/cm), doped polyaniline solid fiber or a yarn produced from such fibers is disposed in an electrolyte inside of a electrically conductive polyaniline hol... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7274128 | Layered inorganic with pillared organic nanocomposite actuators One nanostructured actuator embodiment includes an actuation region between electrical contacts. The actuation region includes an elastic matrix with embedded nanocomposite layered structures, which have inorganic material layers with pillared organic material struc... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7258533 | Method and apparatus for scavenging energy during pump operation A pump comprises a body for at least partially defining a pumping chamber (28); a pump member which undergoes displacement when acting upon a fluid in the pumping chamber; and a piezoelectric element which responds to the displacement of the pump member to ge... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7256529 | High power-to-mass ratio actuator A method for driving an actuator. The method includes applying an electrical potential across an electrostrictive material relative to a counterelectrode disposed within an electrolyte, thereby creating a double layer potential across a region of enhanced ionic conc... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7256923 | Switchable window based on electrochromic polymers Syntheses of a new blue EC monomer (ProDOT-MePro), and a new red EC monomer (ProDOP-Et2) are described. Two additional new types of EC monomers based on 3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene include fluorinated EC monomers and an EC monomer including silicon. EC polymer device... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7242134 | Electromechanical actuator and methods of providing same An electromechanical actuator comprising an inherently conducting polymer and a conductor for conducing voltage along the polymer from a first end region thereof. The conductor is adapted for axially extending and contracting with axial expansion and contraction of ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7223914 | Pulsed electron jump generator A device and method for stimulating pulsed chemical reactions in a small volume of gaseous reactants. An emitter stimulates the reactions of a fuel oxidizer mixture and a collector converts the vibrational energy of the resulting products into useful energy. The dev... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7211348 | Multifunctional battery and method of making the same Disclosed herein is a multifunctional battery for supplying power to an electrical circuit, and the related method of making the same. Use of the multifunctional battery permits structural integrity and versatility, while maximizing power output of the cells and min... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7208767 | Electron-jump chemical energy converter A method and a device for converting energy uses chemical reactions in close proximity to or on a surface to convert a substantial fraction of the available chemical energy of the shorter lived energized products, such as vibrationally excited chemicals and hot elec... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7205699 | Solid state actuation using graphite intercalation compounds In some embodiments, an actuator is provided having a graphite comprising actuation region located between electrodes. An ion storage region is located between the electrodes, with a separator region between the actuation and the storage region. The actuation region... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7122735 | Quantum well energizing method and apparatus A method and apparatus that converts energy provided by a chemical reaction into energy for charging a quantum well device. The disclosed apparatus comprises a catalyst layer that catalyzes a chemical reaction and captures hot electrons and hot phonons generated by ... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7119272 | Gas specie electron-jump chemical energy converter An apparatus and method for extracting energy is provided. In one aspect the method includes using chemical reactions to generate vibrationally excited molecules, such as high-quantum-number-vibrationally-excited gas molecules in a region. The vibration energy in th... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7109136 | Conductive (electrical, ionic, and photoelectric) polymer membrane articles, and method for producing same A conductive (electrical, ionic, and photoelectric) polymer membrane article, comprising a non-woven membrane of polymer fibers, wherein at least some of the fibers have diameters of less than one micron; and wherein the membrane has an electrical conductivity of at... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7106938 | Self assembled three-dimensional photonic crystal A method of making a photonic crystal includes obtaining single spheres for use in making a self assembled opal structure. Spherical particles are placed centrifuge and separated from doublets using a relative difference in sedimentation velocity in response to cent... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7081684 | Converting heat generated by a component to electrical energy A system for utilizing waste heat to provide power to an electronic device in a data center. The system includes at least one data center component configured to generate heat energy during operation thereof and a converter for receiving the heat energy generated by... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7052668 | Process utilizing seeds for making single-wall carbon nanotubes A gas-phase method for producing high yields of single-wall carbon nanotubes with high purity and homogeneity is disclosed. The method involves using preformed metal catalyst clusters to initiate and grow single-wall carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, multi-metall... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7038828 | Electrochromic organic polymer synthesis and devices utilizing electrochromic organic polymers Large contrast ratio and rapid switching laminated electrochromic (EC) polymer device includes transparent electrode, cathodic EC polymer, gel electrolyte, and counter-electrode. Preferably the cathodic EC polymer is a poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) derivative, P... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7001013 | Nanostructure based microfluidic pumping apparatus, method and printing device including same A microfluidic actuator suitable for effecting drop on demand inkjet printing by ejecting fluid through at least one nozzle from at least one cavity being at least partially formed by a deflectable membrane, the actuator including: an actuator chamber operatively co... | 02/21/2006 |
| 7002310 | Piezo-based encoder with magnetic brake for powered window covering The position and speed and, in some embodiments, direction of rotation of a motor for turning the rod of an object such as a window covering is determined by placing a braking magnet next to the motor and a piezoelectric element between the braking magnet and motor.... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6997039 | Carbon nanotube based resonant-circuit sensor Disclosed are resonant gas sensors and methods for forming and using the disclosed sensors. The sensors include a resonator including a layer comprising adsorptive nanostructures, for example carbon nanotubes, activated carbon fibers, or adsorptive nanowires. The di... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6982514 | Electrochemical devices incorporating high-conductivity conjugated polymers The present invention includes the preparation of highly conducting conjugated polymers and their use as electrochemical actuators, A typical electrochemical actuator comprises a highly conducting, conjugated polymer for the anode or the cathode, or for both the ano... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6936955 | Conjugated polymer actuator responsive to electrical stimulation A conjugated polymer actuator having attached electrodes is described wherein direct electrical stimulation induces changes in the dimensions and mechanical properties thereof without the need for electrolytes or counter electrodes. ... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6916451 | Solid state surface catalysis reactor A method and apparatus to stimulate chemical reactions on a catalyst surface using electricity, and the reverse process to convert energy released from chemical reactions into electricity. A reversible emitter generates electrons which are injected into reactants on... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6913789 | Process utilizing pre-formed cluster catalysts for making single-wall carbon nanotubes A gas-phase method for producing high yields of single-wall carbon nanotubes with high purity and homogeneity is disclosed. The method involves using preformed metal catalyst clusters to initiate and grow single-wall carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, multi-metall... | 07/05/2005 |
