| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090288814 | Mixed Carbon Foam/Metallic Heat Exchanger - A heat exchanger includes a thermally-conductive fluid barrier having first and second surfaces, at least one first type of foam element placed in thermally-conductive contact with the first surface of the thermally-conductive fluid barrier and having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and at least one second type of foam element placed in thermally-conductive contact with the second surface of the thermally-conductive fluid barrier and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion of the first type of foam element and the second coefficient of thermal expansion of the second type of foam element are substantially different. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20100132915 | Cooling System for Aerospace Vehicle Components - A cooling system for removing heat generated by electrical components onboard aerospace vehicles flows coolant between an evaporator that removes heat from the component, and a condenser within the skin of the vehicle. The skin is formed from facesheets comprising multiple layers of polymer resin reinforced with meshes of single and double wall nanotubes. The nanotubes conduct the heat directionally so as to both distribute the heat over the skin and direct the heat to the outer surface of the skin where the heat can be carried away by air flowing over the skin. The skin may also include conductive carbon foam surrounding the condenser to reduce thermal resistance between the condenser and the facesheets. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100192941 | Solar Concentration System With Micro-Mirror Array - A solar concentration system including at least one receiver and an array of micro-mirrors connected to a substrate, each micro-mirror of the array being articulateable relative to the substrate, wherein the receiver is positioned relative to the array such that the array directs incoming light to the receiver. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20110089877 | FAULT-TOLERANT ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR HAVING A TORQUE SENSING CONTROL SYSTEM - A method for forming an electromechanical actuator that involves using at least one motor module engageable with an output ram for controllably translating the output ram along a linear axis of the output ram. A torque sensing adaptive control (TSAC) system is used for monitoring motor module torque within the motor module and generating a disengagement command signal. The disengagement command signal is used to initiate disengagement of the motor module from the output ram when the torque within the motor module is outside an allowable motor module torque range. | 04-21-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080204907 | Monolithic optical mount - A monolithic optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member and movable with respect to the outer member along an axis. A first set of fold flexures extends from the inner member to the outer member, so that each fold flexure in the first set has a fold that lies on a tangent to a first circle lying in a first plane that is orthogonal to the axis. A second set of fold flexures extends from the inner member to the outer member, so that each fold flexure in the second set has a fold that lies on a tangent to a second circle lying in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane. With respect to a view taken along the axis, the folds for the first set do not align with the folds for the second set. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080204908 | Optical mount pivotable about a single point - An optical element mount has an outer member and an inner member. The inner member has a central axis and is suspended within the outer member by a plurality of fold flexures. Each fold flexure has a fold that lies along a line that intersects the central axis at one common point, where the common point serves as a pivot point for rotational movement of the inner member. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090219634 | KINEMATIC OPTICAL MOUNT - A positioning apparatus for providing relative movement between a first member and a second member has a lever element pivotably coupled to the first member along a fulcrum member and has an actuator arm and a positioner arm. First and second flexure elements extend between the positioner arm of the lever element and the second member. An actuator is coupled to the actuator arm of the lever element. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20100110570 | X-Y ADJUSTABLE OPTICAL MOUNT - An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a plurality of flexures. A first and a second translational adjustment apparatus are disposed to translate the inner member within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, wherein each translational adjustment apparatus has an actuator movable within the outer member along a linear travel path that is parallel to the translation plane and a shaft extending between the outer and inner members, the shaft coupled to the actuator with a first ball-and-socket joint and coupled to the inner member with a second ball-and-socket joint. The linear travel path of the actuator for the first translational adjustment apparatus is substantially orthogonal to the linear travel path of the actuator for the second translational adjustment apparatus. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100265569 | CONNECTING STRUCTURES COMPRISING HEATED FLEXURES AND OPTICAL PACKAGES INCORPORATING THE SAME - Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to connecting structures comprising heated flexures for aligning a first component with a second component. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an optical package includes a laser, a wavelength conversion device, a mirror and a connecting structure. The mirror reflects a laser beam such that the laser beam is incident upon the wavelength conversion device. The connecting structure includes a structure base and three bipod flexures. Each of the bipod flexures includes first and second bipod legs extending from the structure base to the mirror. A heating element is thermally coupled to the first and second bipod legs. The bipod flexures are arranged in a tripod configuration such that changes in the length of the bipod legs alter the reflection of the laser beam from the mirror. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100272134 | Rapid Alignment Methods For Optical Packages - A method for aligning an optical package including a semiconductor laser operable to emit an output beam having a first wavelength, a wavelength conversion device operable to convert the output beam to a second wavelength and adaptive optics configured to optically couple the output beam into a waveguide portion of an input facet of the wavelength conversion device includes measuring a power of light having a first wavelength emitted by or scattered from the wavelength conversion device as the output beam is scanned over the input facet of the wavelength conversion device along a first scanning axis. A power of light emitted from the wavelength conversion device is then measured as the output beam is scanned over the input facet along a second scanning axis. A position of the second scanning axis relative to an edge of the wavelength conversion device is based on the measured power of light having the first wavelength. The output beam is then aligned with the waveguide portion of the input facet based on the measured power of light having the second wavelength. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100329775 | CONNECTING STRUCTURES COMPRISING HEATED FLEXURES AND OPTICAL PACKAGES INCORPORATING THE SAME - Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to connecting structures comprising heated flexures for aligning a first component with a second component. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an optical package includes a laser, a wavelength conversion device, a mirror and a connecting structure. The mirror reflects a laser beam such that the laser beam is incident upon the wavelength conversion device. The connecting structure includes a structure base and three bipod flexures. Each of the bipod flexures includes first and second bipod legs extending from the structure base to the mirror. A heating element is thermally coupled to the first and second bipod legs. The bipod flexures are arranged in a tripod configuration such that changes in the length of the bipod legs alter the reflection of the laser beam from the mirror. | 12-30-2010 |