| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080253774 | Device having a casing containing a potting material for transmitting signals between electronic components - A device including: at least two electronic/electrical components; and a casing, the casing having at least a portion thereof acting as a communication bus for connecting the at least two electronic/electrical components. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080304910 | Roadway For Decelerating A Vehicle Including An Aircraft - A method for slowing a vehicle traveling over a movable surface in a direction of travel where the vehicle has a first wheel and at least a second wheel offset from the first wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel. The method including: deploying the movable surface to an open position; moving the movable surface to a closed position due to the weight exerted on the movable surface by the first wheel of the vehicle as it travels over the movable surface; locking the movable surface in the closed position to convert at least a portion of a kinetic energy of the vehicle into potential energy to slow the vehicle; and redeploying the movable surface to the open position such that at least the moving can be repeated due to the weight exerted on the movable surface by the second wheel of the vehicle. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090013891 | Electrically Initiated Inertial Igniters for Thermal Batteries and the Like - A method for electrically initiating an inertial igniter for a munition is provided. The method including: generating electrical power upon a firing acceleration of the munition: powering circuitry on board the munition with the generated electrical power; and electrically determining, at the circuitry, whether an acceleration profile experienced by the munition is an all-fire condition. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090015103 | Novel electrical generators for use in unmoored buoys and the like platforms with low-frequency and time-varying oscillatory motions - A buoy for generating electrical energy from an upward heave resulting from a passing wave is provided. The buoy including: a body; a first device associated with the body to which a motion of the heave is transferred; and a second device associated with the body to which the motion is intermittently transferred from the first device. A buoy is also provided for generating electrical energy from a pitch/roll resulting from the passing wave where the first device is associated with the body to which a motion of the pitch/roll is transferred and the second device is associated with the body to which the motion is intermittently transferred from the first device. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090022546 | TRAFFIC CONTROL SPEED BUMP - A method for at least slowing a vehicle moving along a surface, the method comprising: providing first and second panels rotatably disposed on the surface and capable of extending above the surface, wherein each of the first and second panels rotate in a different and opposite direction; providing at least one center panel disposed between the first and second panels, the center panel being capable of being deployed into a position extended from the surface; detecting at least one of a vehicle speed, vehicle type, and vehicle weight; and controlling one or more of the first, second, and center panels based on the detecting. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090093344 | GYMNASTICS SAFETY AND TRAINING AID BAR SLEEVES FOR HIGH BAR AND OTHER APPARATUS - An apparatus for use with gymnastics equipment having a bar which is held by a gymnast, the apparatus including: one or more sleeves surrounding at least a portion of the bar and rotating relative to the bar while the gymnast holds an outer portion of the one or more sleeves; at least one harness for securing around at least a portion of a torso of a gymnast; and one or more straps fixed at a first end to the harness and to the one or more sleeves at a second end; wherein the one or more sleeves have one or more slots for accepting the second end of the one or more straps. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090110481 | Deployable collapsible engineered material systems for runway safety - An apparatus and method for slowing a vehicle. The method including: disposing a predetermined thickness of collapsible material over a base; disposing a plurality of panels over a top surface of the collapsible material over which the vehicle travels; and selectively either supporting one or more of the plurality of panels or allowing the collapsible material to be compressed under the weight of the vehicle. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090118568 | Implantable counterpulsation cardiac assist device - A hollow tubular element is inserted in the descending aorta. The caudad end contains a pressure sensitive passive or preferably, hydraulically or electrically activated, unidirectional valve. A flexible diaphragm situated in a rigid shell affixed over an opening in the element wall divides the shell interior into first and second variable volume chambers. The first chamber opens to the artery. A continuously operating electrical pump is connected to the second chamber through a closed hydraulic system including a multi-valve chamber. The valves regulate fluid flow to the second chamber in accordance with electrical signals from the heart. Fluid flow is directed to the second chamber during cardiac diastole and away from the second chamber during cardiac systole, causing the device to function in a counterpulsation mode. The work of the heart is decreased and coronary blood flow is increased to promote the formation of new coronary collateral channels and the perfusion of the heart itself. In the event of mechanical failure, pre-implantation heart function is not impeded. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090139797 | Devices and methods for slowing descent - A method for decelerating a person during a descent. The method comprising: extending an elongated member from a first elevated point to a second point below the first point in the direction of gravity; movably attaching a person to the elongated member; and converting a kinetic energy of the person into potential energy to thereby decelerate the person. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090160294 | Piezoelectric Generators Having an Inductance Circuit For Munitions Fuzing and the Like - A piezoelectric generator for generating power from an acceleration is provided. The piezoelectric generator including: a piezoelectric member capable of producing an output power; means for applying a force to the piezoelectric member due to the acceleration; means for sustaining a strain in the piezoelectric member resulting from the applied force; and an inductor electrically connected to the piezoelectric member for forming an oscillating circuit. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090178285 | High Branch Tree Saw - A saw for cutting an overhead object is provided. The saw including: an elongated pole having a first end held by a user and a second end; a holding mechanism disposed at the second end of the elongated pole, the holding mechanism having an opening for holding the overhead object; and a cutting blade movably disposed on one of the elongated pole or holding mechanism so as to define a cutting stroke within the opening. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090211648 | FAUCET OUTLET FITTING HAVING A TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE VALVE HAVING SHAPE MEMORY ACTUATOR - A valve for preventing the flow of fluid when the temperature of the fluid is above a predetermined threshold, the valve including: a body having at least one opening for allowing the fluid to pass when the temperature of the fluid is below the predetermined threshold; and a shape memory or bi-metal actuator for substantially closing the at least one opening when the temperature of the fluid is above the predetermined threshold to prevent the fluid from passing. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090217985 | Temperature Sensitive Valve Having Shape Memory Actuator - A valve for preventing the flow of fluid when the temperature of the fluid is above a predetermined threshold, the valve including: a body having at least one opening for allowing the fluid to pass when the temperature of the fluid is below the predetermined threshold; and a shape memory or bi-metal actuator for substantially closing the at least one opening when the temperature of the fluid is above the predetermined threshold to prevent the fluid from passing. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090256024 | Projectile Having A Window For Transmitting Power and/or Data Into The Projectile Interior - A method is provided for optically providing at least one of power and data to a projectile from an external optical source. The method including: outputting an optical signal from an external optical source into an interior of the projectile; receiving the optical signal in the interior of projectile and at least one of converting the optical signal to electrical energy and storing data provided in the optical signal. The electrical energy can be provided to the one or more electronic components and/or energy storage medium disposed on the interior of the projectile. The data provided in the optical signal can be provided to a data storage medium disposed on the interior of the projectile. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090288571 | MULTI-STAGE MECHANICAL DELAY MECHANISMS FOR INERTIAL IGNITERS FOR THERMAL BATTERIES AND THE LIKE HAVING A ROTATABLE MOVABLE MEMBER - An inertia igniter including a mechanical delay mechanism having two or more members which are movable under different acceleration conditions to sequentially move a movable member upon sequential movement of the two or more members and an ignition member actuatable by the movable member such that movement of the movable member by the two or more members ignites the ignition member. The movable member can be movable by one of translation and rotation. The inertia igniter can further comprise an impact mass releasably movable in the housing, wherein the impact mass is released and movable by movement of the movable member to impact the ignition member. The inertia igniter can also further comprise a stop member for preventing movement of the impact mass until the movable member has moved a predetermined distance. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090315431 | ELECTRICAL GENERATORS FOR LOW-FREQUENCY AND TIME-VARYING ROCKING AND ROTARY MOTION - A method for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency is provided. The method including: transferring the first motion to a first device; and intermittently transferring the first motion from the first device to a second device operating at a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100059622 | Integrated Reference Source and Target Designator System for High-Precision Guidance of Guided Munitions - A method for guiding a moving object to a target. The method comprising: transmitting a signal from one or more illuminating sources defined in a reference coordinate system; receiving the signal at three or more cavity waveguides disposed on the moving object; using one or more forward observers to determine the position of the target; fixing the one or more illuminating sources to the one or more forward observers; determining a position and/or orientation of the object in the reference coordinate system based on a strength of the signal received in the three or more cavity waveguides; and guiding the moving object to the target based on the determined position and/or orientation. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100071577 | AXIALLY COMPACT AND LOW-VOLUME MECHANICAL IGNITER FOR THERMAL BATTERIES AND THE LIKE - An inertial igniter for use with a thermal battery for producing power upon acceleration is provided. The inertial igniter including: a base; at least one member disposed on the base, the at least one member having a hole; a mass movable towards the base, the mass having a concave portion; a locking ball disposed in the hole in the at least one member and having a portion thereof disposed in the concave portion for preventing relative movement of the mass with the base when an acceleration time profile is below a predetermined threshold; and a biasing spring including a portion for preventing the locking ball from leaving the concave portion when the acceleration time profile is below the predetermined threshold and for allowing the locking ball to leave the concave portion when the acceleration time profile is below the predetermined threshold to unlock the mass and permit movement of the mass relative to the base. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100087803 | Automated Laser-Treatment System With Real Time Integrated 3D Vision System for Laser Debridement and the Like - A treatment head for treatment of an area of the skin. The head including: an enclosure having an open end for contact with the skin in a vicinity of the treatment area; a camera configured to be directed towards the open end; and a laser head configured to be directed towards the open end. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100094265 | Automated Laser-Treatment System With Real Time Integrated 3D Vision System for Laser Debridement and the Like - A method for automated treatment of an area of skin of a patient with laser energy. The method including: identifying the area to be treated with the laser; modeling the identified area of the skin to be treated; and controlling the laser to direct laser energy to within the modeled area of the skin. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100126338 | Modular, Deployable Weapon System Mount - A mount for deploying a weapon system through a window in a defended position is provided. The mount including a mechanism having an attachment to the weapon system and a base having an attachment to a portion of the defended position. The mechanism further having; a first actuator for moving the weapon system from a stowed position to at least one intermediate position; and a second actuator for moving the weapon system from the at least one intermediate position to a deployed position projecting from the window. The defended position can be a ship in which case the window can be an opening in a hull of the ship. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100132577 | Multi-Stage Mechanical Delay Mechanisms For Electrical Switching and the like - A multi-stage inertial switch including: a housing having a first electrical contact; two or more members disposed in the housing, at least one end of each of the two or more members being sequentially movable upon a different level of acceleration of the housing; and a movable member movable within the housing by the sequential movement of the two or more members, the movable member having a second electrical contact capable of engagement with the first electrical contact to one of open or close an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts upon an occurrence of a predetermined magnitude and/or duration acceleration event. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100155472 | ENERGY HARVESTING POWER SOURCES FOR ACCIDENTAL DROP DETECTION AND DIFFERENTIATION FROM FIRING - A method is provided for differentiating a non-firing event of a munition from a firing event. The method including: providing the munition with a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from a vibration induced by the munition; monitoring an output from the power supply; calculating an impact pulse from the output; and determining whether the munition is to be fired based on the calculation. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100155473 | ENERGY HARVESTING POWER SOURCES FOR VALIDATING FIRING; DETERMINING THE BEGINNING OF THE FREE FLIGHT AND VALIDATING BOOSTER FIRING AND DURATION - A method is provided for validating a firing of a munition and duration of firing of the munition. The method including: providing the munition with a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from a vibration induced by the munition; monitoring an output from the power supply; calculating an impact pulse from the output; and determining one or more of whether the munition has been fired and the duration of firing based on the calculation. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100160121 | Device for Generating Power Across a Joint - A device for generating power during a locomotion cycle from mechanical energy of a living body. The device including an energy absorbing and converting device disposed across a joint of the living body, the energy absorbing and converting device configured to be selectively in an engaged state and in a disengaged state during selected portions of the locomotion cycle while the device remains disposed across the joint of the living body, wherein the device is engaged to absorb mechanical energy of the living body only during a portion of the locomotion cycle during which muscles of the joint would otherwise be doing work across the joint to absorb mechanical energy of the living body, the device is disengaged during a portion of the locomotion cycle during which the muscles are doing work across the joint to increase mechanical energy of the living body and at least partially converting the absorbed mechanical energy to converted energy and the converted energy is provided to one of an energy storage device or power consuming device. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100160122 | Device for Generating Power From a Locomotion Energy Associated With Leg Muscles Acting Across a Joint - A device for generating power from a locomotion energy associated with leg muscles acting across an ankle joint. The device including: a cuff worn on the leg; a shoe; an energy absorbing element operatively connected to the cuff and shoe for absorbing energy during one or more periods of a periodic motion of the joint in which energy is absorbed by the muscles. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100199873 | Methods and Devices For Enabling Safe/Arm Functionality Within Small Weapons - A method for enabling safe/arm functionality in weapons. The method including: attaching the weapon to an airframe; providing an elastic element in the weapon; releasing the weapon from the airframe to release a stored energy in the elastic element; converting the stored energy to an electrical energy; and providing the electrical energy to one or more components in the weapon. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100206195 | ACTUATORS FOR GUN-FIRED PROJECTILES AND MORTARS - Projectiles are provided having a shell and; one or more actuators for providing thrust disposed inside of a wall of the shell; one or more ring portions forming at least a portion of the shell, the one or more ring portions having one or more actuators formed therein for providing thrust and/or one or more actuator stacks for providing thrust, the one or more actuator stacks each having two or more individual actuators for providing thrust. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100220002 | System and Method For Roll Angle Indication and Measurement in Flying Objects - A method for onboard measurement of a deviation in orientation of an object from a desired orientation of the object. The method including: transmitting a polarized RF signal from a reference source, with a predetermined polarization plane; receiving the signal at a pair of polarized RF sensor cavities positioned symmetrical on the object with respect to the predetermined polarization plane; analyzing an output of the pair of polarized RF sensor cavities resulting from the received signal; and determining the deviation in orientation of the object relative to the predetermined plane based on the analysis. The method can further include controlling the object based on the determined deviation in orientation. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100236329 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED ENERGY HARVESTING POWER SOURCES AND INERTIAL SENSORS FOR GUN-FIRED MUNITIONS - A method for generating electrical power from an acceleration of an object is provided. The method including: vibrating a mass-spring unit upon an acceleration of an object; transmitting a force resulting from the acceleration from the mass-spring unit to the one or more piezoelectric elements; converting the vibration of the mass-spring unit to an electrical energy; and calculating at least one of the force and acceleration based on an output of the one or more piezoelectric elements. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100236440 | Methods and Apparatus For Mechanical Reserve Power Sources For Gun-Fired Munitions, Mortars, and Gravity Dropped Weapons - A power source including: a power generation device; a mass-spring unit having a mass and an elastic element operatively connected to the power generation device; and one or more retention fingers releasably engaged with the mass-spring unit for retaining the mass-spring unit in a position such that potential energy is stored therein and for releasing the potential energy upon occurrence of an event to generate electrical energy in the power generation device, the one or more retention fingers having a first end fixed at a base and a second end releasably engaged with the mass-spring unit. The occurrence of the event can be one or more of an acceleration and spinning of the base. Also disclosed is a power source having one or more retention fingers that are slidable with respect to a base such that the engagement of the first end is released upon a spinning of the base. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100251879 | Energy harvesting power sources for assisting in the recovery/detonation of unexploded munitions governmental rights - A method is provided for recovering and/or exploded an unexploded munition. The method including: providing the munition with a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from an induced vibration; inducing a vibration; monitoring an output from the power supply after the power supply has stopped generating power from a firing of the munition; and generating a beacon signal or detonation signal upon the detection of the output. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100258020 | Power supplies for projectiles and other devices - A projectile including: at least one power consuming element, and a power supply which generates power from an acceleration of the projectile and supplies such power to the at least one power consuming element, the power supply including a device for storing potential energy upon the acceleration of the projectile and a device for converting the stored potential energy to electrical energy. Where the device for storing potential energy upon the acceleration of the projectile includes a movable mass and an energy storage device for storing energy upon the acceleration of the movable mass and the energy storage device is a chamber having a compressible fluid therein, the chamber being acted upon by the movable mass to reduce the volume of the chamber subsequent to acceleration of the movable mass. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100275595 | Mechanical stepper motors - A method for stepping a first member relative to a second member. The method including: providing one of the first and second members with one of a plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a first spacing; providing the other of the first and second members with the other of the plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a second spacing, where the first spacing is different from the first spacing; and engaging at least one of the movable pins into a corresponding pocket to step one of the first and second members a predetermined linear and/or rotary displacement. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100275805 | Mechanical stepper motors for gun-fired projectiles, mortars and missiles - A projectile including: a body having an internal space; and a mechanical stepper motor disposed in the body. The mechanical stepper motor including: a shuttle having one of a plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a first spacing; a body portion having the other of the plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a second spacing, where the first spacing is different from the first spacing; and actuation means for engaging at least one of the movable pins into a corresponding pocket to step one of the shuttle and body portion a predetermined linear and/or rotary displacement. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100282053 | Deployable projectile - A method for protecting a second location against a first projectile fired from a first location at the second location. The method including: firing at least one second projectile toward the first projectile; and increasing a footprint of the second projectile via a deployment from the second projectile to prevent the first projectile from striking the second location. The method can also include detonating a charge upon contact of the first projectile with the deployment; timing an operation of the second projectile to increase an amount of damage and/or redirection of the first projectile; tracking the first projectile and guiding the second projectile to intercept the first projectile based on the tracking and/or the various launching platforms so as to increase the likelihood of protection against the first projectile. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100283264 | Impact Powered Devices - A device including: a housing; a powered element disposed on or in the housing; and an impact power producing element housed on or in the housing and operatively connected to the powered element, the impact power producing element producing power upon an impact of at least a portion of the housing with another surface; wherein the impact power producing element comprises a mass and one or more spring elements connected at a first end to the mass and at a second end directly or indirectly to the housing and the impact power producing element further comprises one or more magnet elements and a coil, wherein the impact causes a relative motion between the one or more magnet elements and the coil. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100283265 | METHOD FOR POWERING A DEVICE WITH AN IMPACT - A method for powering a device. The method including: impacting a portion of the device against a surface; converting the impacting to electrical energy; and providing at least a portion of the electrical energy to at least one powered element associated with the device. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100295720 | Integrated Reference Source And Target Designator System For High-Precision Guidance of Guided Munitions - A method for guidance of a moving object towards a target. The method including: providing reference signals from RF reference sources to illuminate RF sensors on the moving object; positioning the RF reference sources to form a reference coordinate system; determining position information designating a position of the target in the reference coordinate system by a forward observer; fixing at least one of the RF reference sources at the forward observer in the reference coordinate system; determining a position and orientation of the moving object in the reference coordinate system on board the moving object based on signals received at the RF sensors from the RF reference sources and based on the positions of the RF reference sources; and guiding the moving object to the target at least based on the determined position and orientation of the moving object and the determined position information of the designated target. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100307362 | Setback and Set-Forward Initiated Inertial Igniters and Activated Electrical Switches - A method of igniting one of a pyrotechnic material and primer during or after an all fire setback acceleration. The method including: positioning a mass element along an inclined surface; biasing the mass element in a direction into the inclined surface such that the mass element traverses the inclined surface upon the all fire setback acceleration against the biasing; drawing the mass element toward one of a pyrotechnic material and primer with the biasing after the mass element traverses the inclined surface. The method can further include delaying the drawing until the mass element experiences a set forward acceleration. The delaying can include drawing the mass element into a delay well after the mass element traverses the inclined surface and drawing the mass element across a delay wedge when the mass element experiences the set forward acceleration. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110076029 | Device Having a Casing and/or Interior Acting as a Communication Bus Between Electronic Components - A device other than a projectile including: a casing, at least a portion of which contains a potting material acting as the optical waveguide material; a transmitter for transmitting a pulse based signal at least partially through the potting material; and a receiver for receiving the pulse based signal after one or more reflections of the pulse based signal from interior surfaces of the casing; the pulse based signal having a pulse rate configured such that a subsequent pulse doesn't interfere with reflections from an immediately previous pulse. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110076030 | Computer Having a Casing and/or Interior Acting as a Communication Bus Between Electronic Components - A computer including: a casing, at least a portion of which contains a potting material acting as an optical waveguide material; a transmitter for transmitting a pulse based signal at least partially through the potting material acting as the optical waveguide material; and a receiver for receiving the pulse based signal after one or more reflections of the pulse based signal from interior surfaces of the casing; the pulse based signal having a pulse rate configured such that a subsequent pulse doesn't interfere with reflections from an immediately previous pulse. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110125071 | ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE FOR TREATING BONE FRACTURES - Orthopaedic device and a method of use thereof are provided for treating a bone fracture. The orthopaedic device has at least one pressure applying element configured to apply pressure to soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and a holder configured to engage, in an engaged configuration, soft tissue adjacent to the bone fracture and, while in the engaged configuration, to permit adjustable positioning and securing the at least one pressure applying element to the holder. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110129295 | Deployable Collapsible Engineered Material Systems For Runway Safety - A method for slowing a vehicle. The method including: disposing a predetermined thickness of collapsible material over a base; disposing a plurality of panels over a top surface of the collapsible material over which the vehicle travels; and selectively either supporting one or more of the plurality of panels or allowing the collapsible material to be compressed under the weight of the vehicle. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110162549 | ACTUATORS FOR GUN-FIRED PROJECTILES AND MORTARS - An actuator stack is provided and having two or more individual actuators stacked in a longitudinal direction. Each of the two or more actuators having a solid detonation charge; a primer for igniting the detonation charge; and detonation wiring for powering the primer; and wherein at least one of the two or more individual actuators comprise an accelerating nozzle having at least a convergent section terminating at a throat. | 07-07-2011 |
