Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080292888 | Microfabrication - A method of forming a surface of micrometer dimensions conforming to a desired contour for a MEMS device, the method comprising providing a crystalline silicon substrate with a recess in an upper surface, providing a thinner layer of crystalline silicon over the upper surface of the substrate, fusion bonding the layer to the substrate under vacuum conditions, and applying heat to the layer and applying atmospheric pressure on the layer, such as to plastically deform the diaphragm within the recess to the desired contour. The substrate may form the fixed electrode of an electrostatic MEMS actuator, operating on the zip principle. | 11-27-2008 |
20090230499 | Sensor device - A sensor device for sensing air flow speed at the exterior of an aircraft, comprising a substrate having an upper side on which is mounted a diaphragm over an aperture or recess in the substrate, the diaphragm being thermally and electrically insulative, and mounting on its upper surface a heating element comprising a layer of resistive material, and wherein electrical connections to the heating element are buried in the diaphragm and/or the substrate, and provide electrical terminals at the lower side of the substrate. The heating element is exposed to the environment, but the remaining electrical parts of the device are not exposed. | 09-17-2009 |
20100126140 | MILLIMETRE-SCALE ENGINE - A millimetre-scale pulse jet engine comprises an engine body that defines a combustion chamber, a fuel, an air intake, and an exhaust. The fuel inlet is arranged to inject fuel directly into the combustion chamber. The air intake and the exhaust are in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, and the combustion chamber is configured such that air from the air intake and fuel from the fuel inlet cyclically combust in the combustion chamber to produce exhaust gases. | 05-27-2010 |
20100139860 | BONDING TOOL AND METHOD - A bonding tool and method A bonding tool and method for bonding together layers of a MEMS transducer device, including at least one layer of a piezoelectric material, and an intermediate reinforcing layer of titanium, or other metal, comprising: positioning the layers above one another and spaced apart by means of spacing members, heating said layers to a bonding temperature, and retracting the spacing members so as to bring the layers together under pressure to effect a bond between adjacent surfaces of the layers, wherein a press head is employed with a compliant caul for evenly distributing the press force; and permitting said layers to cool to an operating temperature in which said piezoelectric layer is under compressive strain and the titanium layer is under tensile strain. | 06-10-2010 |
20100170333 | FLUID FLOW MONITORING - In order to discriminate between laminar flow and turbulent flow states, and to provide an indication, e.g. to a pilot of an aircraft of air flow over an aircraft wing, a sensor mounted on the wing provides an analogue signal of airflow, and an intermittency value of the analogue signal is derived in analogue circuitry including an AC coupling of the signal to an integrator for integrating the signal for a preset time. The integrated value is compared with a threshold value to indicate whether the intermittency represents quiet laminar flow or noisy turbulent flow. | 07-08-2010 |
20100275684 | FLUID FLOW MONITORING - To provide an indication of whether airflow is separated, as opposed to other states of flow, over a surface, two or more adjacent sensors at a location on the surface each produce an analogue signal representative of airflow. The analogue signals are correlated with each other, and the degree of correlation indicates whether the airflow is in a separated state. The correlation may be carried out by comparing processed values of the analogue signals, and thresholding the comparison result. | 11-04-2010 |
20110107843 | ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ASSEMBLIES AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS INCORPORATING SAME - A structural health monitoring arrangement includes a component formed of fibre reinforced composite material with a plurality of electrical conducting fibres intrinsic to the composite defining electrical paths that run through the composite. The paths act as sensing paths running through the material and a detector watches for changes in electrical property indicative of a structural event. The paths may be configured as an open or a closed node grid whose electrical continuity is monitored directly or indirectly. Alternatively they may be fibres having a piezoresistive property and the changes in resistance may be monitored. | 05-12-2011 |
20110111266 | ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCES - An electrical power source including at least one hollow fibre incorporated in a material structure, wherein the at least one hollow fibre forms part of an electric circuit capable of storing or generating electrical power. In this way power sources may be provided as an integral part of a fibre composite structure or fabric. | 05-12-2011 |
20110120750 | ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ASSEMBLIES AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS INCORPORATING SAME - Composite structural components are disclosed that include electrically conducting fibres providing multiple signal or paths to electrical components disposed on or adjacent the material. The signal paths may therefore be embedded in the structural component as an intrinsic reinforcing element. Also disclosed are materials for making up the structure and fabrics and methods for the production thereof. | 05-26-2011 |