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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8146357 | Self assembling/quick assembly structure using shape memory alloy materials A shape memory alloy material may be incorporated in an assembly structure. ... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8136356 | Shape memory alloy actuator system A resistance feedback circuit has a storage section which stores a feedback gain calculated in advance, a resistance value obtained from a detection section, and a time at which the resistance value is obtained. A computing section has a gain setting section which c... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8127543 | Methods of manufacturing 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... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8104278 | Energy harvesting, storing, and conversion utilizing shape memory activation A system for and method of harvesting, storing and converting naturally occurring energy, includes exposing an active material, and more preferably a shape memory element to an ambient activation signal or condition, harvesting a portion of the energy by pseudoplast... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8096119 | Fuel-powered actuators and methods of using same Fuel-powered actuators are described wherein actuation is a consequence of electrochemical processes, chemical processes, or combinations thereof. These fuel-powered actuators include artificial muscles and actuators in which actuation is non-mechanical. The actuato... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8065877 | Solar energy converting device and power supply system including the same A solar energy converting device includes a frame, a container, a thermal expansion member, a connecting rod, an inductor and magnetic members. The frame defines an opening. The container is positioned on an inner surface of the frame and positioned adjacent to the ... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8046994 | Precision method and apparatus for controlling the shape memory alloy The invention discloses a method and apparatus to control the shaping change of Shape-Memory-Alloy (SMA). The piece-wised current drain control device is designed to independently deliver current to stimulate sectional SMA but not the entire one. The invention is al... | 11/01/2011 |
| 7980074 | Active material actuator assembly Active material actuator assemblies are provided that enable simplified control systems and faster actuator cycle times. A movable member is provided that has multiple active material components operatively connected to it. The active material components are separat... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7975477 | Driving device and method of manufacturing the same A driving device and driving device manufacturing method that ensure stable fixing of an SMA, without causing difficulties in downsizing the device, and without adversely affecting the performance of the SMA. A driving device equipped with a string-shaped shape memo... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7921644 | Power transmission for a thermal elastic wire A power transmission for a thermal elastic wire including a frame for supporting a pair of anchor posts which stretch said wire there between. One of the posts being pivoted in the frame and having an extension arm projecting therefrom towards the other post. A spri... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7921645 | Corrugated thermal actuator A thermal actuator for micro mechanical or micro electro-mechanical devices comprises a supporting substrate; an actuator extension portion; an anchor block extending from the substrate; a first group of at least two elongate corrugated arms attached at a first end ... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7823382 | Active material actuator with modulated movement An active material actuator assembly is provided having first and second active material components operatively connected to a movable member. Movement of the movable member is modulated, which may be due to activation of the first and second active material compone... | 11/02/2010 |
| 7810326 | Torque actuator incorporating shape memory alloy composites Multiple embodiments of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) based torque actuators are described. These torque actuators include a magnetic trigger and an FSMA member, which when actuated by the magnetic trigger, produces a torque for rotating a member. Examples... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7805936 | Thermo-element To provide a thermo-element having a simple structure, an improved durability and a good response characteristic, by improving heat conduction of wax and by improving a diaphragm. The wax is blended with small pieces of metal, and a low-melting point alloy having a ... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7793497 | Actuator with a wound shape-memory element An actuator comprises an elongated shape-memory element wound around a first element and having one first end connected to the first element and one second end connected to a second element. Heating means are provided for heating the shape-memory element in order to... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7770391 | Device for effecting a bi-directional displacement of a means along a guide The invention relates to a device for a bi-directional displacement of a means or a connecting element, along a guide, which can be reversibly moved between at least two positions along the guide, with a means for driving that can be engaged with the means or connec... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7647771 | Thermally driven piston assembly and position control therefor A thermally driven piston assembly's housing has (i) a first material slidingly fitted therein, and (ii) at least one plug of a second material slidingly fitted therein and abutting the first material. The first material is one (e.g., a liquid crystal elastomer) tha... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7640741 | Driving apparatus In an auto image stabilization system, a driving member formed as a wire of shape memory alloy (SMA) is retained by a projection of an image capturing unit. A distance Lb from the rotation center of an elastic deforming part to center of gravity (point of applicatio... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7614228 | System and method of manufacturing actuator A system of manufacturing an actuator for driving a to-be-driven object by extension/contraction of a shape memory alloy, the system comprising: a mounting unit configured to mount the shape memory alloy between an actuator body and the to-be-driven object; and a he... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7600378 | Volume phase transition to induce gel movement Movement of a gel structure is propagated by successively applying external stimuli to cause volume phase transition in the gel structure by alternately causing the gel structure to collapse and swell to move the center of mass of the gel structure in the direction ... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7481054 | Shape memory alloy actuator A shape memory alloy actuator includes a housing, a plunger, a shaft, a resilient member, and a shape memory alloy component. The plunger is slidably but non-rotatably received in the housing and has a first locking component. The shaft has a second locking componen... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7469538 | Self assembling/quick assembly structure using shape memory alloy materials A shape memory alloy material may be incorporated in an assembly structure. ... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7464547 | Thermal actuators A thermal bend actuator (6) is provided with a group of upper elongate actuator arms (23, 25, 26) and a group of lower elongate actuator arms (27, 28) which are non planar, so increasing the stiffness of the arms. The arms (23, 25, 26, 27, 28... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7464548 | Shape memory alloy linear actuator Linear actuators including coupled elongate members formed of shape memory alloys are provided. Members that lengthen when heated are coupled to members that shorten when heated such that stroke amplification gains are derived from each member. The members may be tu... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7451595 | Drive device The driving device includes a bendable shape memory alloy member, a resilient member for applying a tension to the shape memory alloy member in a longitudinal direction thereof, a bending member for bending the shape memory alloy member, and a movable body moved by ... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7451596 | Multiple degree of freedom micro electro-mechanical system positioner and actuator A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) positioner, including an actuator and method for making the same, includes a stage formed within a first layer of semiconductor material, along with a series of beams, flexure hinges and controlled input thermal actuators. Th... | 11/18/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7367186 | Wireless technique for microactivation The present invention is a method and apparatus for achieving high work output per unit volume in micro-robotic actuators, and in particular TiNi actuators. Such actuators are attractive as a means of powering nano-robotic movement, and are being developed for manip... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7364271 | Nozzle arrangement with inlet covering cantilevered actuator A nozzle arrangement is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel. A nozzle extends from the substrate assembly. The nozzle defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7364211 | Vehicle lock controlled by a shape memory alloy actuator A contractible shape memory alloy (SMA) wire is used to throw a lever in a latch. The SMA actuator provides weight and space savings. In one embodiment, the SMA actuator is incorporated in the handle of the latch in order to provide a child lock or double lock funct... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7363942 | Continuous automatic control and distributor valve, with a magnetic seal A valve which is composed of: —A seal consisting of two identical ferromagnetic discs (1), which enclose another smaller-diameter disc (2) and a permanent magnet, the rims (3) of the outer discs (1) being bevelled and the three discs co... | 04/29/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7334874 | Inkjet nozzle chamber with electrostatically attracted plates An inkjet drop ejection apparatus with a chamber with a nozzle; and spaced electrodes. The electrodes are mounted such that application of a voltage across the electrodes causes the electrodes to move relative to each other in order to eject drops of ink through sai... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7329959 | Micro power generator and apparatus for producing reciprocating movement There is provided a micro power generator enhanced in efficiency and power generation output, and having an increased temperature range for operation. The micro power generator comprises: a high-temperature heat source; a low-temperature heat source; an enclosed bod... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7328975 | Injet printhead with thermal bend arm exposed to ink flow An inkjet drop ejection apparatus 1010 having a chamber 1012 with a nozzle 1011; and an actuator with a thermal bend arm 1034. The arm has a cold portion 1024 and a hot portion 1022 such that thermal expansion of the hot por... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7327952 | Stage apparatus and camera shake correction apparatus using the stage apparatus A stage apparatus includes a Y-direction deformable body including a stationary support member, a movable support member and a pair of X-direction leaf springs to form a substantially rectangular shape in a free state; and an X-direction deformable body, positioned ... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7322679 | Inkjet nozzle arrangement with thermal bend actuator capable of differential thermal expansion A nozzle arrangement is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly, in turn, including an electrical drive circuitry layer and defining an ink inlet channel. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly. ... | 01/29/2008 |
