Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090047197 | Active material based bodies for varying surface texture and frictional force levels - A device for selectively controlling and varying surface texture includes a body having at least one surface, and an active material in operative communication with the at least one surface, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in a property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in a property is effective to change a texture of the at least one surface. | 02-19-2009 |
20090074993 | Active material activated cover - In one embodiment, a cover system can comprise: a cover and an active material component in operable communication with the cover. The active material component can comprise an active material that enables the deployment and retraction of the cover. | 03-19-2009 |
20090267339 | BELT RETRACTOR UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - A seat belt retractor utilizing active material actuation for selectively modifying the tension in a seat belt. | 10-29-2009 |
20090277169 | OVERHEATING PROTECTION FOR SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATORS - An overheating protection system adapted for use with a shape memory alloy actuator element, includes at least one switching shape memory alloy element presenting a slower activation period than that of the actuator element, and configured to selectively prevent activation of the actuator element, when the actuator element is actually or predicted to be experiencing overheating; and a circuit comprising the system, wherein the switching element and/or a circuit implement functions to modify activation of the actuator element. | 11-12-2009 |
20110120111 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A THERMAL ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - A method of controlling an energy harvesting system that converts excess thermal energy into mechanical energy and includes a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) member, includes obtaining current operational parameters of the energy harvesting system, such as a maximum temperature, a minimum temperature and a cycle frequency of the SMA member. The current operational parameters are compared to a target operating condition of the energy harvesting system to determine if the current operational parameters are within a pre-defined range of the target operating condition. If the current operational parameters are not within the pre-defined range of the target operating condition, then a heat transfer rate to, a heat transfer rate from or a cycle frequency of the SMA member is adjusted to maintain operation of the energy harvesting system within the pre-defined range of the target operating condition to maximize efficiency of the energy harvesting system. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120112 | VEHICLE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE HAVING A CONTINUOUS LOOP OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY MATERIAL - An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes first and second regions, a conduit, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) material. The conduit extends along a central axis. The SMA material surrounds the conduit and is disposed in one of the regions. The SMA material is radially spaced from a secondary axis that surrounds the central axis. A localized region of the SMA material changes crystallographic phase from martensite to austenite and contract in response to exposure to the first temperature. The localized region of the SMA material also changes crystallographic phase from austenite to martensite and expands in response to exposure to the second temperature. The SMA material rotates about the secondary axis in response to the contraction and expansion of the localized region of the SMA material. Rotation of the SMA material about the secondary axis drives the component. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120114 | VEHICLE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE HAVING A CONTINUOUS LOOP OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY - An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. A carrier surrounds the conduit such that the carrier is driven to rotate around the conduit by the shape memory alloy in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120118 | EXHAUST SYSTEM - An exhaust system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between an exhaust gas having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The exhaust system also includes a conduit configured for conveying the exhaust gas, a heat engine disposed in thermal relationship with the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy, and a member disposed in contact with the conduit and configured for conducting thermal energy from the conduit to the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first element formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the heat sink. | 05-26-2011 |
20110124451 | VEHICLE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE HAVING A CONTINUOUS LOOP OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY - An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component. | 05-26-2011 |
20110163769 | METHODS OF DETERMINING MID-STROKE POSITIONS OF ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATED LOADS - Systems for and methods of determining at least one mid-stroke position of an active material actuated load by causing a stress induced rapid change in electrical resistance within the active material element, or modifying an ancillary circuit, when the load is at the mid-stroke position(s). | 07-07-2011 |
20120015149 | ACTIVELY CONTROLLED TEXTURING SYSTEMS - Actively controlled texturing systems for and methods of selectively and reversibly forming wrinkles, or modifying the amplitude, wavelength, or pattern of existing wrinkles upon a surface using active material actuation. | 01-19-2012 |
20120046791 | METHOD OF IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF SMA ACTUATOR - A method of improving the speed and consistency of response of a shape memory alloy actuator under varying ambient and operating conditions. The method includes probing the shape memory alloy by periodically determining an electric signal strength at which it will undergo forward or reverse phase transformation, while avoiding actual phase transformation; priming the shape memory alloy by bringing it close to phase transformation; initiating phase transformation; and maintaining the shape memory alloy in the phase transformed state. The electric signal strength at which the shape memory alloy will undergo phase transformation is determined by identifying a cusp feature in the electric resistance of the shape memory alloy which closely precedes phase transformation. | 02-23-2012 |
20120114778 | SURFACE TEXTURING USING FOLDABLE STRUCTURES AND ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a variably foldable structure in communication with the surface, and active material actuation to enable and/or cause folding. | 05-10-2012 |
20120216523 | ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM - An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A driven component, such as an electric generator, may be selectively coupled with the heat engine through a coupling device, which may be controlled via a controller. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216526 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216527 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY HEAT ENGINES AND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEMS - A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes a first wire, a second wire, and a matrix joining the first wire and the second wire. The first wire and the second wire are in contact with the pulleys, but the matrix is not in contact with the pulleys. A timing cable is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy. | 08-30-2012 |
20120262789 | SHAPE MEMORY POLYMER-BASED TUNABLE PHOTONIC DEVICE - A photonic device is provided having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected members with alterable spacing between the members. The structure is composed of a shape memory polymer configured to be thermo-mechanically tunable to display a plurality of optical properties under a series of temperature changes and stress. A method of producing a photonic device based on a shape memory polymer is provided. A mold, having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected components with a characteristic spacing between the components, is infiltrated with a shape memory polymer precursor to form a composite structure. The composite structure is solidified. The mold is removed from the composite structure to form a photonic device as an inverse replica of the mold. | 10-18-2012 |
20130081493 | METHOD OF REDUCING THE EFFECT OF PREHEAT TIME VARIATION DURING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATION - A system for and method of reducing the effects of preheat period variation in shape memory alloy actuation, include sensing the removal of motion delay due to slack, backlash, and/or compliance in the actuator and drive-train of the system, and determining actuator activation, as a result thereof. | 04-04-2013 |
20130081933 | Reconfigurable Bi-Stable Device - A reconfigurable bi-stable device includes an elastically deformable panel laterally disposed between and connected to one or more mounting members directly or indirectly connected to opposing ends of the panel, with the panel maintained under compressive force along at least one vector extending between the opposing ends. The compressive force deforms the panel into a one of two stable deformed positions, with the device disposed such that the panel may be moved between each of the two stable deformed positions by application of manual force to one of two opposing faces of the panel. A first shape memory alloy (SMA) or piezo actuator member is connected to the panel, the actuator member being capable of moving the panel from a first one of the two stable deformed positions to a second one of the two stable deformed positions. | 04-04-2013 |