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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7928826 | Electrical switching devices using a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation mechanism An electrical switching device employs an actuator mechanism formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA). The electrical switching device includes a housing, at least one non-actuated electrical contact supported in the housing, and an actuator assembly contained within th... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7764159 | Shape-memory actuator device with protection against over-stresses A shape-memory actuator device comprises means for interrupting electrical supply to a shape-memory element when the axial load applied to said element exceeds a predetermined threshold value. ... | 07/27/2010 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7371295 | Shape memory alloy and method for producing same A shape memory alloy comprises Co, Ni and Al with a two-phase structure comprising a β-phase having a B2 structure and a γ-phase having an fcc structure, at least 40% by area of crystal grain boundaries of the β-phase being occupied by the γ-phase. The shape mem... | 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 |
| 7339454 | Tensile-stressed microelectromechanical apparatus and microelectromechanical relay formed therefrom A microelectromechanical (MEM) apparatus is disclosed which includes a shuttle suspended above a substrate by two or more sets of tensile-stressed beams which are operatively connected to the shuttle and which can comprise tungsten or a silicon nitride/polysilicon c... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7335426 | High strength vacuum deposited nitinol alloy films and method of making same A vacuum deposition method for fabricating high-strength nitinol films by sputter depositing nickel and titanium from a heated sputtering target, and controlling the sputter deposition process parameters in order to create high-strength nitinol films that exhibit sh... | 02/26/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7300457 | Self-supporting metallic implantable grafts, compliant implantable medical devices and methods of making same Implantable medical grafts fabricated of metallic or pseudometallic films of biocompatible materials having a plurality of microperforations passing through the film in a pattern that imparts fabric-like qualities to the graft or permits the geometric deformation of... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7278679 | Automotive vehicle with structural panel having selectively deployable shape memory alloy elements A structural panel for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel and a variable strength inner panel attached to the outer panel. The inner panel utilizes active elements formed from shape memory alloy (SMA). A controller activates the SMA elements so as to tran... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7270135 | Dishwasher dispensing assembly actuator mechanism An actuator mechanism is provided for a dishwasher dispensing assembly including a detergent dispenser actuator and a rinse agent dispenser actuator. Shape memory wire is connected to each actuator and is used to open a detergent reservoir and a rinse aid reservoir ... | 09/18/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7216831 | Shape changing structure In one preferred embodiment, a structure is provided that includes a body having a first wall and a second wall. At least one appending component extends from an end of the body and includes a first skin and second skin. The structure additionally includes at least ... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7209344 | Computer controlled display device The present invention is a computer controlled display device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data. Additionally, a moveable assembly may be coupled to the display. The moveable assembly may ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7195641 | Valvular prostheses having metal or pseudometallic construction and methods of manufacture This invention relates to improvements in prosthetic cardiac and venous valves and implantable medical devices having moveable septa. The inventive prosthetic cardiac and venous valves have metallic or pseudometallic valves coupled to metallic or pseudometallic sten... | 03/27/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7178648 | Electrical activation of a viscous clutch A system for controlling the engagement and disengagement of a viscous type coupling is accomplished by controlling the relative positioning of a spring loaded valve arm relative to a fluid port through the use of an electrically-activated, temperature-sensitive wir... | 02/20/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7118656 | Thin film stent A method for fabricating a stent or other medical device by creating a free standing thin film of metal. ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7040323 | Thin film intrauterine device Contraceptive intrauterine devices made of thin film shape memory alloy materials. The devices are formed in three-dimensional shapes which contact uterus tissue of a human or other mammal to prevent conception. In certain embodiments, structural features such as ta... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7037076 | Shape memory alloy device and control method A preferred rotary actuator includes an actuator assembly having a torque tube formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a superelastic NiTinol return spring associated with the torque tube and adapted to bias the torque tube toward an initial position, and a torque tub... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7017345 | High stroke, highly integrated SMA actuators A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assembly is provided that includes an SMA component. The SMA component is used to impart motion in an output shaft. Also provided is a return force component that provides a variable, tailored return force to the SMA component. Ad... | 03/28/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7004047 | Variable area nozzle for gas turbine engines driven by shape memory alloy actuators A gas turbine engine includes a variable area nozzle having a plurality of flaps. The flaps are actuated by a plurality of actuating mechanisms driven by shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators to vary fan exist nozzle area. The SMA actuator has a deformed shape in its m... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6998984 | State adaptation devices and methods for wireless communications A communications system has first and second units whereby, when a user changes the physical state of the first unit, a message is sent to the second unit to cause the second unit to change to the same state. This change in state can be, for example, a physical sque... | 02/14/2006 |
| 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 |
| 6969920 | Low current shape memory alloy devices An SMA device in which an SMA wire actuating element is operated periodically at a low voltage by power derived from a current source current which is too low to heat the wire directly sufficiently for effective actuation. The low current source is connected to a ca... | 11/29/2005 |
| 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 |
| 6946040 | Shape memory alloy and method of treating the same A method of treating a shape memory alloy to improve its various characteristics and to cause it to exhibit a two-way shape memory effect. A raw shape memory alloy having a substantially uniformly fine-grained crystal structure is prepared and then its crystal orien... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6943653 | Bistable electric switch and relay with a bi-stable electrical switch The invention relates to a bi-stable electric switch comprising a spring (101) that is configured as a bi-stable snap-action spring and carries contact elements (114, 116) on the carrier strip (104) of the spring and comprising at least one driv... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6917276 | Bistable switch with shape memory metal A bistable shape memory alloy (SMA) micro-switch includes a single continuous SMA element such as a nitinol wire that provides bi-directional motion for switching functions. Bifunctional contact arms provide a mechanical force to maintain an open state of the micro-... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6911891 | Bistable actuation techniques, mechanisms, and applications A bistable structure provided by the invention is characterized as including a deflection element that has mechanically constrained end points and a compliant span between the end points that is substantially free to deflect between two stable positions when a force... | 06/28/2005 |
