| Oakland University Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120067709 | MEMS SWITCH WITH LATCH MECHANISM - A MEMS switch includes a latch mechanism, first and second electrical conductors, a first latch actuator, a second latch actuator, and an axial actuator. The latch mechanism may include a transfer rod and a contact member, the contact member extending radially outwardly from a position along the axial length of the transfer rod. The first and second electrical conductors may extend along, and may be radially offset from, a portion of the transfer rod. The first latch actuator may include a first latch pin, and the second latch actuator may include a second latch pin, the first and second latch actuators being configured to move toward and away from the transfer rod, and the first and second latch pins configured to engage the contact member. The at least one axial actuator may be configured to move the contact member towards and away from the first and second electrical conductors. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20110271775 | Sheet metal stretch-bend-draw simulator apparatus and method - A stretch-bend-draw simulator (SBDS) apparatus for approximating die stamping of a metal is disclosed. The simulator includes a tool having a surface for contacting a sheet metal strip clamped in a jaw grip adapted to pull the sheet metal strip to provide a force measurement. A tool holding and moving means can be included for mounting, translating, and positioning the tool with respect to the sheet metal strip. The tool can be mounted on the tool holding means at a distal end or on a mounting plate of the apparatus. The tool holding means is coupled to a contact force measuring means for measuring the contact force. A draw bead block holder is provided that is adapted to mount a corresponding male and female draw bead blocks. The holder includes a compressing means for compressing the draw bead blocks together to clamp the strip. A clamping force measuring means is provided for measuring a clamping force resulting from the draw bead blocks clamping on the sheet metal strip. The simulator can include a base clamping means for mounting the sheet metal strip at an opposite end. The base clamping means is positioned adjacent the draw bead block holder and coupled to a back force measuring means for measuring a back force resulting from holding the sheet metal strip while the jaw grip pulls the sheet metal strip. The apparatus is adapted to analyze skid lines on the sheet metal strip resulting from contact with the tool. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110201032 | Immunosensors: scFv-linker design for surface immobilization - An apparatus and methods for binding an analyte of interest in a sample are provided. The apparatus comprises a substrate with an exposed surface with an compound, that is electrostatically charged or capable of forming hydrogen bonds, provided bound to the solid substrate. A recombinant single chain antibody (scFv) molecule specific for the analyte of interest, having one or more amino acids with charged or hydrogen-bond forming sidechains in a linker polypeptide portion, is bound to the layer on the solid substrate. When the analyte of interest is present in the sample the scFv binds the analyte to the solid substrate. The apparatus can be used with an immunoglobulin layer to detect Fc receptors, so as to detect microorganisms such as | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110148578 | AUTOMOTIVE DIRECTION FINDING SYSTEM BASED ON RECEIVED POWER LEVELS - A system is provided for locating a vehicle. The system comprises a transmission device such as a key fob for transmission and receiving of a signal. Typically the key fob has a plurality of indicators such as LED indicators arranged in a circle. The key fob is adapted to transmit a radio frequency or microwave frequency transmission signal. An antenna array is positioned on or in a vehicle. The array comprises a plurality of antennas, generally arranged in a circular pattern. The array is adapted to receive the transmission signal from the transmission device which is converted to be analyzed by a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU is adapted to: (i) receive digital data converted from the transmission signal, (ii) calculate an angle of arrival (AOA) or direction of arrival (DOA) based on known components and an algorithm, and (iii) transmit a selection signal back to the key fob. A signal processing unit is coupled to the plurality of antennas and the MCU. The signal processing unit is adapted to receive the signal transmission from each antenna, convert the signal to digital data, and transmit the digital data to the MCU. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110140216 | Method of wafer-level fabrication of MEMS devices - The present disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a micromachined CMOS-MEMS integrated device as well as the devices/apparatus resulting from the method. In the disclosed method, the anisotropic etching (e.g., DRIE) for isolation trench formation on a MEMS element is performed on the back side of a silicon wafer, thereby avoiding the trench sidewall contamination and the screen effect of the isolation beams in a plasma etching process. In an embodiment, a layered wafer including a substrate and a composite thin film thereon is subjected to at least one (optionally at least two) back side anisotropic etching step to form an isolation trench (and optionally a substrate membrane). The method overcomes drawbacks of other microfabrication processes, including isolation trench sidewall contamination. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20100248283 | Portable surface plasmon resonance biosensor - A surface plasmon resonance biosensor device and system are provided. The simplicity of SPR biosensor design allows easy integration with both QCM and electrochemistry techniques, not found in current SPR biosensor devices. In some embodiments, the surface plasmon resonance biosensor device has a dual SPR/QCM sample holder which allows simultaneous detection by both surface plasmon resonance and also quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) techniques. In additional embodiments, the surface plasmon resonance biosensor device and/or the dual SPR/QCM technique can be integrated with electrochemistry techniques by incorporate reference and counter electrodes in the SPR or SPR/QCM sample holder. Methods of using the device and system to determine whether an analyte of interest is present in a sample are also provided. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100021790 | Elastomeric bipolar plates - An elastomeric conductive bipolar plate for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells is described. The plate reduces the weight of the fuel cell and eliminates the need for gaskets typically used in these fuel cells. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20090293590 | Ionic liquid thin layer sensor for electrochemical and/or piezoelectric measurements - An electrochemical piezoelectric sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a piezoelectric substrate, three (or more) electrodes over a first surface of the substrate, and another electrode over a second (opposing) surface of the substrate. An ionic liquid in the form of a film is adhered, bound, immobilized, or otherwise positioned over the substrate and electrodes of the first surface. The ionic liquid film permits the absorption and detection of analytes from a gaseous sample, for environmental gases, example explosive vapors and/or explosive vapor species in the gaseous sample. Detection (optionally including analyte quantitation and qualitative identification) can be performed by both electrochemical and piezoelectric techniques using a single sensor. Systems incorporating and methods of using the electrochemical piezoelectric sensor also are disclosed. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090105558 | Portable autonomous multi-sensory intervention device - A portable sensory intervention system for a patient in need thereof is provided, which comprises:(a) a soft device to be held by the patient comprising one or more stimulation units which are: (i) a speaker inside the device coupled to means for generating a sound; (ii) a light source visible outside the device for generating a soothing color; or (iii) an aroma generator, wherein the one or more of the stimulation units are coupled to a controller which is operably coupled to a wireless receiver means; and (b) a sensing unit adapted to be mounted on the patient and which detects patient agitation by electrically measuring physiological signals and wherein the sensing unit communicates with the soft device to provide instructions to the soft device to operate the one or more stimulation units in the soft device. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090085695 | FERRITE-PIEZOELECTRIC MICROWAVE DEVICES - Devices for modification of a microwave signal using a magnetically saturated ferrite magnetoelectric device with electrical control are disclosed. The device is useful for microwave resonators, band pass filters, delay lines and phase shifters. | 04-02-2009 |
