Did You Know...
...that a workman who left the soap mixing machine on too long was responsible for making Ivory Soap? He was so embarrassed by his mistake that he threw the mess in a stream. Imagine his dismay when the evidence of his error floated to the surface! Result: Ivory soap, the soap that floats.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7812703 | MEMS device using NiMn alloy and method of manufacture A material for forming a conductive structure for a MEMS device is described, which is an alloy containing about 0.01% manganese and the remainder nickel. Data shows that the alloy possesses advantageous mechanical and electrical properties. In particular, the sheet... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7724121 | Singly attached MEMS thermal device and method of manufacture An improved MEMS thermal actuator has a cantilevered beam and a conductive circuit having two driving arms, an inner arm adjacent to the cantilevered beam, and an outer arm adjacent to the inner arm. Current flows through the inner and outer arms to heat the conduct... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7545252 | Phase change MEMS switch A switch for providing a control function is provided. The switch is comprised of an actuator. The actuator comprises a base portion, a cantilever beam connected to the base portion, and an actuator cell adjacent to the cantilever beam. The actuator cell comprises a... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7522029 | Phase change actuator An actuator is provided. The actuator comprises a base portion, a cantilever beam connected to the base portion, and an actuator cell adjacent to the cantilever beam. The actuator cell comprises a first metal electrode positioned on the cantilevered beam, a second m... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7414512 | Operating device, position-switching device, and magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus An operating device has a pair of linear members (43, 44) made of a shape memory alloy and contracting axially due to heat generated by electrification and generating tension in the contracting direction, a drive lever (19) supported to pivot about a p... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7372356 | Concealed adjustable temperature switch A concealed adjustable temperature switch includes a fixed plate, an adjusting block threadedly engaged with a screw hole of the fixed plate, a bimetal plate, and a metal plate. Mounted on the adjusting block are upper and lower positioning rings and a fixing ring b... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7372355 | Remote controlled wall switch actuator A device to actuate a switch. The switch has a switch toggle movable between a first position and a second position. The device includes a switch yoke movable between the first position and the second position adapted to engage the switch toggle and move therewith. ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7372348 | Stressed material and shape memory material MEMS devices and methods for manufacturing Disclosed is a MEMS device which comprises at least one shape memory material such as a shape memory alloy (SMA) layer and at least one stressed material layer. Examples of such MEMS devices include an actuator, a micropump, a microvalve, or a non-destructive fuse-t... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7350762 | Flow control assemblies having integrally formed shape memory alloy actuators In one embodiment of the present invention, a shape memory alloy (“SMA”)-actuated flow controller comprises a number of grille members, each having a long axis and being slideable relative to one another parallel to that long axis. The SMA-actuated flow controll... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7305824 | Power-off hold element A power-off hold element for operating in cooperation with an actuator is disclosed. The power-off hold element comprises a material having selectively adjustable rigidity wherein a position or shape of said material is adjustable when energy is applied to increase ... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7283030 | Doubly-anchored thermal actuator having varying flexural rigidity A doubly-anchored thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The thermal actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor. A deformable elemen... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7268660 | Low battery indicator A low battery indicating device is disclosed for indicating that a battery has low power. The device includes an indicator having a body movable between a retracted, unactuated position and an extended, actuated position. The indicator is visible when in the actuate... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7249856 | Electrostatic bimorph actuator An electrostatic bimorph actuator includes a cantilevered flexible bimorph arm that is secured and insulated at one end to a planar substrate. In an electrostatically activated state the bimorph arm is generally parallel to the planar substrate. In a relaxed state, ... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7221247 | Magnetically actuated microelectromechanical systems actuator A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) actuator having electrically conductive coils that create first magnetic fields that are opposed by a second magnetic field is disclosed. The actuator includes two coils having dual, interspersed Archimedean spirals. Within... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7220051 | Shape memory alloy temperature sensor and switch A switch, such as an electromechanical or optical switch, whose state is responsive to temperature history, for example temperature excursions above or below a critical temperature. An element of the sensor made from shape memory alloy changes shape when exposed, ev... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7192119 | Printhead nozzle arrangement with a micro-electromechanical shape memory alloy based actuator A printhead nozzle arrangement includes a substrate. Drive circuitry is positioned on the substrate. A nozzle chamber structure is arranged on the substrate and defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with a supply of ink and an ink ejection port in fluid co... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7168249 | Microelectrical mechanical structure (MEMS) optical modulator and optical display system A microelectrical mechanical out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam actuator is capable of providing transverse-plane movement of shutters. The actuator includes a pair of structural anchors secured to a substrate and one or more thermal buckle-beams secured at respective... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7154369 | Passive thermal switch A thermal switch selectively couples a heat source to a pair of heat sinks. The thermal switch includes a shunt that is thermally coupled to the heat source. The shunt has a pair of posts. End portions of the posts are at least partially radially surrounded by respe... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7152960 | Micro-electromechanical valve having transformable valve actuator A micro-electromechanical valve is provided having a channel defined by a substrate and circuitry thereon so as to terminate at an aperture, a closure member arranged to be displaceable between first and second positions at which the aperture is respectively covered... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7151627 | Microelectrical mechanical structure (MEMS) optical modulator and optical display system A MEMS optical display system includes an illumination source for providing illumination light, a collimating lens for receiving the illumination light and forming from it collimated illumination light, and a converging microlens array having an array of lenslets th... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7142087 | Micromechanical latching switch A micro-electrical-mechanical-switch (MEMS) device comprises a semiconductor wafer, a first semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor wafer, and a second semiconductor layer formed on the first layer. A first latching movable shuttle is formed in the second la... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7125103 | Fluid ejection device with a through-chip micro-electromechanical actuator A fluid ejection device includes a substrate that defines a plurality of nozzle chambers. A drive circuitry layer is positioned on one side of the substrate and contains drive circuitry. A structural layer is positioned on an opposite side of the substrate and defin... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7090337 | Inkjet printhead comprising contractible nozzle chambers An inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzle assemblies is provided. Each nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle chamber for ink to be ejected. The chamber includes an ink inlet for fluid communication with an ink reservoir and a nozzle through which ink from the ch... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7075209 | Compliant bistable micromechanism A method for designing and optimnizing compliant mechanisms is provided, in addition to bistable compliant mechanism designs. According to the method, a selected compliant structure may be modeled analytically, and the characteristics of the analytical model may be ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7064879 | Magnetically actuated microelectrochemical systems actuator A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) actuator having electrically conductive coils that create first magnetic fields that are opposed by a second magnetic field is disclosed. The actuator includes two coils having dual, interspersed Archimedean spirals. Within... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7053519 | Electrostatic bimorph actuator An electrostatic bimorph actuator includes a cantilevered flexible bimorph arm that is secured and insulated at one end to a planar substrate. In an electrostatically activated state the bimorph arm is generally parallel to the planar substrate. In a relaxed state, ... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7007471 | Unilateral thermal buckle beam actuator A unilateral in-plane thermal buckle-beam microelectrical mechanical actuator is formed on a planar substrate of semiconductor material, for example. The actuator includes first and second anchors secured to the substrate and a floating shuttle positioned movably pa... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6972659 | Reusable shape memory alloy activated latch A mechanical release mechanism is provided. The mechanical release mechanism includes two structural members in slideable relation one to another. A latch holds one structural member in a latched position relative to the other structural member. A shape memory alloy... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6967761 | Microelectrical mechanical structure (MEMS) optical modulator and optical display system A microelectrical mechanical out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam actuator is capable of providing transverse-plane movement of shutters. The actuator includes a pair of structural anchors secured to a substrate and one or more thermal buckle-beams secured at respective... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6958598 | Efficient switching architecture with reduced stub lengths A switching topology for communicating signals in an automatic test system includes a plurality of switching circuits each for selectively passing signals or crossing signals. Switching circuits are connected together such that each node of any switching circuit con... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6882264 | Electrothermal self-latching MEMS switch and method Electrothermal Self-Latching MEMS Switch and Method. According to one embodiment, a microscale switch having a movable microcomponent is provided and includes a substrate having a stationary contact. The switch can also include a structural layer having a movable co... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6771158 | Micro electromechanical differential actuator A micro electromechanical differential actuator is comprised of a suspension arm structure and/or a bridge structure to make a two-degree-of-freedom and bi-directional motion. The actuator support base can make out-of-plane or in-plane vertical and horizontal motion... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6703916 | Micro-device with thermal actuator The invention relates to a microswitch containing conductors located on a first level and conductors located on a second level, where the conductors on the first level are supported by a deformable element which can switch by means of an actuator with a b... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6685303 | Thermal actuator with reduced temperature extreme and method of operating same An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element extending from the base eleme... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6531947 | Direct acting vertical thermal actuator with controlled bending A micrometer sized, single-stage, vertical thermal actuator with controlled bending capable of repeatable and rapid movement of a micrometer-sized optical device off the surface of a substrate. The vertical thermal actuator is constructed on a surface of ... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6504467 | Switch integral in a semiconductor element In a semiconductor element, in particular for switching an electrical connection, a substance which expands to a great extent when heated is arranged on the element in such a way that if the element is overheated, the electrical leads of the element are d... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6483419 | Combination horizontal and vertical thermal actuator A micrometer sized, single-stage, horizontal and vertical thermal actuator capable of repeatable and rapid movement of a micrometer-sized optical device off the surface of a substrate. The horizontal and vertical thermal actuator is constructed on a surfa... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6384707 | Bistable micro-switch and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides a bistable switch using a shape memory alloy, and a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, the bistable switch includes a substrate having at least one power source; a flexible sheet having a first distal end ... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6294977 | Thermal switch assembly A thermal switch assembly has a contact member of shape memory alloy sandwiched between a pair of electrically conductive outer members. A contact arm on the contact member has a deformed shape at normal temperatures and a recovered shape at elevated temp... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6255934 | Bistable actuation device An actuation device capable of changing its operating condition between a stable rest position and a stable work position has a monostable actuation unit with a body and at least a shaft movable as a function of the energization available to the actuation... | 07/03/2001 |
