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7600378 Volume phase transition to induce gel movement  
Movement of a gel structure is propagated by successively applying external stimuli to cause volume phase transition in the gel structure by alternately causing the gel structure to collapse and...
7582109 Thermal transition methods and devices  
A method of sequentially transitioning a thermally active shape memory device progressively translocates the thermally active shape memory device through a first controlled temperature zone and...
7481054 Shape memory alloy actuator  
A shape memory alloy actuator includes a housing, a plunger, a shaft, a resilient member, and a shape memory alloy component. The plunger is slidably but non-rotatably received in the housing and...
7469538 Self assembling/quick assembly structure using shape memory alloy materials  
A shape memory alloy material may be incorporated in an assembly structure.
7464548 Shape memory alloy linear actuator  
Linear actuators including coupled elongate members formed of shape memory alloys are provided. Members that lengthen when heated are coupled to members that shorten when heated such that stroke...
7464547 Thermal actuators  
A thermal bend actuator ( 6 ) is provided with a group of upper elongate actuator arms ( 23, 25, 26 ) and a group of lower elongate actuator arms ( 27, 28 ) which are non planar, so increasing the...
7456698 Mechanical self-reciprocating oscillator and mechanism and a method for establishing and maintaining regular back and forth movement of a micromachined device without the aid of any electronic components  
A mechanical self-reciprocating oscillator and mechanism and method for establishing and maintaining regular back and forth movement of a micromachined device without the aid of any electronic...
7451596 Multiple degree of freedom micro electro-mechanical system positioner and actuator  
A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) positioner, including an actuator and method for making the same, includes a stage formed within a first layer of semiconductor material, along with a...
7451595 Drive device  
The driving device includes a bendable shape memory alloy member, a resilient member for applying a tension to the shape memory alloy member in a longitudinal direction thereof, a bending member...
7414512 Operating device, position-switching device, and magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus  
An operating device has a pair of linear members ( 43, 44 ) made of a shape memory alloy and contracting axially due to heat generated by electrification and generating tension in the contracting...
7372355 Remote controlled wall switch actuator  
A device to actuate a switch. The switch has a switch toggle movable between a first position and a second position. The device includes a switch yoke movable between the first position and the...
7367186 Wireless technique for microactivation  
The present invention is a method and apparatus for achieving high work output per unit volume in micro-robotic actuators, and in particular TiNi actuators. Such actuators are attractive as a means...
7350762 Flow control assemblies having integrally formed shape memory alloy actuators  
In one embodiment of the present invention, a shape memory alloy (“SMA”)-actuated flow controller comprises a number of grille members, each having a long axis and being slideable relative to...
7313917 Volume phase transition to induce gel movement  
Movement of a gel structure is propagated by successively applying external stimuli to cause volume phase transition in the gel structure by alternately causing the gel structure to collapse and...
7305824 Power-off hold element  
A power-off hold element for operating in cooperation with an actuator is disclosed. The power-off hold element comprises a material having selectively adjustable rigidity wherein a position or...
7301767 Electronic equipment including an apparatus for cooling interior of housing  
An electronic equipment of the present invention includes housings and, a substrate, electronic components mounted on the substrate, a heatsink which is connected to the electronic component,...
7299630 Positioning and locking mechanisms and articles that employ the same  
Disclosed herein is a locking mechanism for positioning or locking an article comprising a housing 3 ; an optional active element 6 in operative communication with a connecting means 22 ,...
7296457 Thermally-actuated press brake tool holder technology  
The invention provides press brake technology. In more detail, the invention involves a press brake tool holder having a thermally-responsive actuator. In certain embodiments, the actuator...
7260932 Shape memory alloy latching valve  
A shape memory activated fluid control pinch valve is disclosed. The valve may be normally open or normally closed. In various embodiments of the valve, the valve may be a latching pinch valve and...
7256518 Shape memory alloy actuators  
Linear actuators comprised of a plurality of geometric links connected together in displacement multiplied fashion by a plurality of SMA wires. The links may have a trigon or chevron configuration....
7207658 Printhead integrated circuit with electromechanical actuators incorporating heatsinks  
A printhead integrated circuit that has an array of nozzles and corresponding micro-electromechanical actuators for ejecting ink there through. Each of the micro-electromechanical actuators having...
7188473 Shape memory alloy actuator system using segmented binary control  
An architecture shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators is presented called Segmented Binary Control (SBC). Instead of controlling the phase transition of the entire SMA wire as a single plant, we...
7168249 Microelectrical mechanical structure (MEMS) optical modulator and optical display system  
A microelectrical mechanical out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam actuator is capable of providing transverse-plane movement of shutters. The actuator includes a pair of structural anchors secured to a...
7155911 Thermal bend actuator with corrugate profile  
A thermal bend actuator ( 6 ) is provided with a group of upper arms ( 23, 25, 26 ) and a group of lower arms ( 27, 28 ) which are non planar, so increasing the stiffness of the arms. The arms (...
7140391 Multiway valve  
A multiway valve contains a housing having several inlets and outlets and a chamber. Several seats are provided and each is respectively associated with one inlet or one outlet. A closure element...
7117673 Actuator for two angular degrees of freedom  
An apparatus for two degree of freedom positioning a moveable structure relative to a support structure is provided. The apparatus includes a moveable structure, a support structure, a compliant...
7104056 Design of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy composites and actuators incorporating such materials  
The present invention employs an optimized cross-sectional shape for a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) composite that is used in a spring-type actuator, an improved hybrid magnetic trigger...
7093817 Flow control assemblies having integrally formed shape memory alloy actuators  
In one embodiment of the present invention, a shape memory alloy (“SMA”)-actuated flow controller comprises a number of grille members, each having a long axis and being slideable relative to...
7076951 Discrete step rotary actuator  
A discrete step rotary actuator ( 1 ) comprises a stator ( 2 ), a rotor ( 3 ) and at least an actuating element ( 10 ) made with a shape memory active material, the actuating element ( 10 ) having...
7073332 Stop device with shape memory actuator  
A stop device with a shape memory actuator includes two stop elements sliding within a fixed support structure and usually hold in their mutual distant position by cam means pushed through spring...
7043910 Thermal actuator  
An asymmetric MEMS thermal actuator device includes a base portion, typically a pair of bond pads, and an actuator element connected to the base portion by a flexure portion. The actuator element...
7037076 Shape memory alloy device and control method  
A preferred rotary actuator includes an actuator assembly having a torque tube formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a superelastic NiTinol return spring associated with the torque tube and adapted...
7036312 MEMS actuators  
The MEMS cantilever actuator is designed to be mounted on a substrate. The actuator comprises an elongated hot arm member having two spaced-apart portions, each provided at one end with a...
7028474 Micro-electromechanical actuator with control logic circuitry  
A micro-electromechanical actuator includes a substrate. An elongate actuator arm has a fixed end portion that is fast with the substrate and a free end portion that is spaced from the substrate....
7021055 Shape memory alloy actuator  
Actuators that employs a shape memory alloy component as the driving element include linear and rotational devices. An Intrinsic Return Means (IRM) may be imparted to the SMA actuator, thereby...
7017345 High stroke, highly integrated SMA actuators  
A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assembly is provided that includes an SMA component. The SMA component is used to impart motion in an output shaft. Also provided is a return force component...
7013641 Micro-electromechanical device  
A fluid ejection device includes a substrate. Nozzle chamber walls are arranged on the substrate and define a plurality of nozzle chambers. The substrate defines a plurality of fluid inlet channels...
7007471 Unilateral thermal buckle beam actuator  
A unilateral in-plane thermal buckle-beam microelectrical mechanical actuator is formed on a planar substrate of semiconductor material, for example. The actuator includes first and second anchors...
6988364 Thermal actuator  
A specially profiled wax retaining cup and piston guide are crimped together to compress a peripheral portion of a diaphragm wax seal to the extent of extruding the diaphragm material to form both...
6983595 Fluid ejection device  
A device is formed from an integrated circuit which comprises a substrate; drive circuitry arranged on the substrate; and a plurality of micro-electromechanical devices positioned on the substrate....
6983594 Shape memory thin micro-actuator, and method for producing the same  
A micro-actuator includes a shape memory thin film having one end fixed to a substrate and one remaining part which, at room temperature, is in the martensitic phase and assumes a...
6981374 SMA actuator with improved temperature control  
A SMA actuator having rigid members and SMA wires, in which improved temperature control of the SMA wires of the actuator is provided by a heat sink, which may be the rigid members themselves, in...
6978613 Thermal bend actuator  
A thermal bend actuator ( 6 ) is provided with upper arms ( 23, 25, 26 ) and lower arms ( 27, 28 ) which are non planar, so increasing the stiffness of the arms. The arms ( 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 ) may...
6969920 Low current shape memory alloy devices  
An SMA device in which an SMA wire actuating element is operated periodically at a low voltage by power derived from a current source current which is too low to heat the wire directly sufficiently...
6960849 Three-dimensional microelectromechanical tilting platform operated by gear-driven racks  
A microelectromechanical (MEM) tiltable-platform apparatus is disclosed which utilizes a light-reflective platform (i.e. a micromirror) which is supported above a substrate by flexures which can be...
6938416 Aircraft with shape memory alloys for retractable landing gear  
Aircraft that use a shape memory alloy to extend or retract landing gear are provided. The present invention includes aircraft that contain a first retractable landing gear and a first shape memory...
6931892 Drainage control device for washing machines  
A drainage control device for washing machines is disclosed. This device controls the drain port, provided at the bottom of a washing tub, thus draining water from the washing tub in accordance...
6928812 SMA actuator safety mechanism  
A method and apparatus for preventing the unintended activation of SMA devices by ambient temperatures that exceed the phase transition temperature of the SMA material itself. In one embodiment a...
6915633 Shape memory alloy actuators for use with repetitive motion devices  
Shape memory actuators for use with repetitive motion devices are provided. The present invention includes a method of urging a working end of a repetitive motion work arm into a work surface in...
6892538 Apparatus for controlling exhaust attack angle for a variable turbine  
An apparatus for controlling an exhaust attack angle for a variable turbine applied in a turbocharger of an engine is provided that comprises: an actuator driven according to a strength of a...