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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 6603386 | Bi-stable microswitch including shape memory alloy latch A bi-stable microswitch (1) including a pair of contacts (6, 7) and an armature (4) movable between a first position and a second position to selectively make or break the pair of contacts, the armature being latched in the second position by a shape memo... | 08/05/2003 |
| 6333583 | Microelectromechanical systems including thermally actuated beams on heaters that move with the thermally actuated beams Improved microelectromechanical structures include spaced-apart supports on a microelectronic substrate and a beam that extends between the spaced-apart supports and that expands upon application of heat thereto to thereby cause displacement of the beam b... | 12/25/2001 |
| 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 |
| 6020807 | Sealed case hold open thermostat A thermostat includes a case, including an exterior, that is made of conductive material. A cover plate is made of a conductive material. The cover plate is connected to the case to define a sealed interior. The cover plate has a contact projecting into t... | 02/01/2000 |
| 6005469 | Thermal switch assembly A thermal switch having a current carrying switch blade actuator of shape memory metal has a resistance less than 20 milliohms. The actuator is deformed to less than about 8% strain, and a very hard high strength dielectric material is used for a spacer.... | 12/21/1999 |
| 5897055 | Actuator with an electrically heatable thermostatic operating element An actuator with an electrically heatable operating element, the housing of the operating element being held stationary in a mount of a base body, and a transfer element, which comprises two plastic molded parts, is provided between the piston and the ele... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5844465 | Temperature compensated time-delay switch A time-delay switch responsive to a sensor 36 having a temperature compensation feature including bimetallic creep-type strip elements (10, 11). Additionally, the switch has an alarm function (A) with a manual reset button (9).... | 12/01/1998 |
| 5793274 | Surface mount fusing device A thermal fuse device for over-current protection includes a fusing element comprising a conductive strip having a fulcrum point between first and second ends. The fuse strip is connected to first and second terminal pads on a substrate by a first solder ... | 08/11/1998 |
| 5619177 | Shape memory alloy microactuator having an electrostatic force and heating means A microactuator and method of operation is disclosed for use in actuating valves, electrical contacts, light beams, sensors and other elements between different actuation modes. An actuator member comprised of a shape memory alloy layer is mounted on an e... | 04/08/1997 |
| 5510598 | Electro-thermally actuated switch A thermally-actuated switch includes a pair of switch contacts openable or closeable in response to a change in the length of a shape memory metal (SMM) rod. The SMM rod is caused to change its length by having its temperature increased by heat produced w... | 04/23/1996 |
| 5216403 | Relay A relay including a control circuit which via a movement creating or actuating arm and a transmission mechanism activates a contact means in order to switch on or switch off a main circuit. The actuating arm includes two elongated parallel parts which are... | 06/01/1993 |
| 4772807 | Electric control device for controlling displacement of an element between two predetermined positions The invention relates to an electric control device for controlling displacement of a moving element (22) between two predetermined positions, said element (22) being associated with one or two electrically conductive return means (18, 30) having shape me... | 09/20/1988 |
| 4434414 | Snap-acting thermal relay A thermally operated snap-acting switch uses a switch arm and tension spring for rotating the switch arm. A thermal-responsive element moves the pivot of theswitch arm relative to the centerline of the spring to actuate the switch. Heater means activates ... | 02/28/1984 |
| 4339741 | Thermally actuated time delay switch A thermally actuated switch which embodies an active unit which includes a heat responsive element which is part of an enclosure enclosing electrical resistance elements for heating. Heat is applied internally to the enclosure and cooling is by way of dis... | 07/13/1982 |
| 4184136 | Fast acting thermal relay A snap-action thermal relay in which a thin sheet of spring material having a central opening is mounted at one point along one edge and is crimped along an adjacent edge to distort the sheet into a slightly convex bowed shape. A heater element in the for... | 01/15/1980 |
| 4095208 | Intermittently operable electrical switch assembly An intermittently operable switch assembly comprises an electrically insulating base having mounted on one surface thereof a first electrical terminal for connection to a power supply, a second electrical terminal for connection to an apparatus to be oper... | 06/13/1978 |
| 4011536 | Liquid sensor A sensor which utilizes the difference in thermal characteristic between two fluids to detect the presence of one fluid or the other. A continuously heated thermal expansion element activates a switch. When the element is brought in thermally conductive c... | 03/08/1977 |
