| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7441888 |
Eyeglass frame |
October 28, 2008 |
| Eyeglass frame hinges are replaced by flexures made of hyperelastic single-crystal shape memory alloy. These flexures exhibit more than 8 percent recoverable strain. Eyeglass frames with these flexures can be distorted repeatedly in ways that would destroy ordinary hinges, and recove |
| 7422403 |
Non-explosive releasable coupling device |
September 9, 2008 |
| A device and method for holding or clamping components together, and with the clamping being selectively loosened to permit the components to move through a predetermined distance without being fully released. A bolt has its head end attached to one component and its threaded end attache |
| 7084726 |
Thin film shape memory alloy actuated microrelay |
August 1, 2006 |
| A microrelay device formed on a silicon substrate wafer for use in opening and closing a current path in a circuit. A pair of electrically conducting latching beams are attached at their proximal ends to terminals on the substrate. Proximal ends of the beams have complementary shapes |
| 7040323 |
Thin film intrauterine device |
May 9, 2006 |
| Contraceptive intrauterine devices made of thin film shape memory alloy materials. The devices are formed in three-dimensional shapes which contact uterus tissue of a human or other mammal to prevent conception. In certain embodiments, structural features such as tails, fenestrations, |
| 6955187 |
Zinc-air battery control valve |
October 18, 2005 |
| A zinc-air battery and control valve for controlling air flow to energize the battery. Telescoping inner and outer valve sleeves each have a plurality of openings that when aligned communicate air from the exterior to the interior of the valve. Two actuators are provided, one to open the |
| 6790298 |
Method of fabrication of free standing shape memory alloy thin film |
September 14, 2004 |
| Methods of fabricating a free standing thin film of shape memory alloy material, and products made by the methods. A sacrificial layer of a metallic material is deposited onto the surface of a substrate. Then an amorphous shape memory alloy is sputter deposited onto the outer surface |
| 6746890 |
Three dimensional thin film devices and methods of fabrication |
June 8, 2004 |
| Methods for making thin film multiple layered three-dimensional devices using two-dimensional MEMS techniques for use in a variety of applications including endovascular, endolumenal, intracranial, and intraocular medical applications. In the general method, a thin film first layer of th |
| 6742761 |
Miniature latching valve |
June 1, 2004 |
| An SMA actuated miniature latching valve for on and off control of fluid flow. A valve closure includes a poppet for opening and closing the fluid flow path. The poppet is operated responsive to an actuator mechanism which has SMA wires arranged to be actuated by electric resistant heati |
| 6729599 |
Liquid microvalve |
May 4, 2004 |
| A valve for the control of fluid flow in microsize systems, such as for transfer of small samples of blood for processing. An actuator beam comprised of a microribbon formed of a shape memory alloy is in a normally closed position where inlet and outlet ports of the valve are closed. In |
| 6669795 |
Methods of fabricating high transition temperature SMA, and SMA materials made by the methods |
December 30, 2003 |
| A method of fabricating ternary TiNi-based alloys to achieve substantially higher phase-change transition temperatures in the resulting SMA materials and which have optimal thermo-mechanical properties. One target is provided which comprises the element Ti, a second target comprises the |
| 6624730 |
Thin film shape memory alloy actuated microrelay |
September 23, 2003 |
| A microrelay device formed on a silicon substrate wafer for use in opening and closing a current path in a circuit. A pair of electrically conducting latching beams are attached at their proximal ends to terminals on the substrate. Proximal ends of the beams have complementary shapes whi |
| 6620634 |
Method of accurately measuring compositions of thin film shape memory alloys |
September 16, 2003 |
| A method of measuring with high accuracy the composition of shape memory alloy elements that are sputter deposited in thin film form. An element of known composition is polished with a flat surface. An element of unknown composition is sputter deposited onto the surface. Miniature openin |
| 6614570 |
Shutter for fiber optic systems |
September 2, 2003 |
| A light shutter for controlling a light signal between occluded and uninterrupted states. The shutter has a frame which mounts a beam under compression so that it assumes either of two bi-stable buckled positions. An occluder is mounted on the beam, A shape memory alloy actuator is p |
| 6533905 |
Method for sputtering tini shape-memory alloys |
March 18, 2003 |
| A thin film device, such as an intravascular stent, is disclosed. The device is formed of a seamless expanse of thin-film (i) formed of a sputtered nitinol shape memory alloy, defining, in an austenitic state, an open, interior volume, having a thickness between 0.5-50 microns, having |
| 6470108 |
Optical switching device and method |
October 22, 2002 |
| A method of measuring with high accuracy the composition of shape memory alloy elements that are sputter deposited in thin film form. An element of known composition is polished with a flat surface. An element of unknown composition is sputter deposited onto the surface. Miniature openin |
| 5960812 |
Fluid flow control valve |
October 5, 1999 |
| A valve and method of operation for controlling the flow of fluid from a pressurized fluid source while maintaining a secure seal against fluid leakage over long periods of time. The valve includes a valve body formed with an inlet channel which extends through a strain concentrating |
| 5903099 |
Fabrication system, method and apparatus for microelectromechanical devices |
May 11, 1999 |
| A fabrication system and method of fabrication for producing microelectromechanical devices such as field-effect displays using thin-film technology. A spacer is carried at its proximal end on the surface of a substrate having field-effect emitters with the spacer being enabled for t |
| 5771742 |
Release device for retaining pin |
June 30, 1998 |
| A release mechanism employing an actuating element of a shape memory alloy material. When the actuating element is heated through its phase-change transition temperature it applies a force which moves a latch to a position which activates the higher energy stored in a drive spring for |
| 5325880 |
Shape memory alloy film actuated microvalve |
July 5, 1994 |
| A sub-miniature valve which provides an actuator of shape memory alloy film coupled so as to move a poppet adjacent to a valve port. The shape memory alloy film actuator is thermally cycled through its phase change transition temperature, resulting in either a contraction or elongation o |
| 5245738 |
Method for securing together and non-explosively separating multiple components |
September 21, 1993 |
| A non-explosive separation device for releasably holding together components of equipment or apparatus which are to be separated under controlled conditions. The separation device and method of operation includes a retaining element having a strain concentrated portion which complete |
| 5165897 |
Programmable tactile stimulator array system and method of operation |
November 24, 1992 |
| A tactile stimulator array system and method of operational incorporating a plurality of tactile elements having touch-stimulating portions which are positioned through corresponding openings formed in a touch plate. The tactile elements are moved by actuator wires which are formed of a |
| 5119555 |
Non-explosive separation device |
June 9, 1992 |
| A non-explosive separation device for releasably holding together components of equipment or apparatus which are to be separated under controlled conditions. The separation device and method of operation includes a retaining element having a strain concentrated portion which complete |
| 5061914 |
Shape-memory alloy micro-actuator |
October 29, 1991 |
| A method of producing an integral piece of thermo-sensitive material, which is responsive to a shift in temperature from below to above a phase transformation temperature range to alter the material's condition to a shape-memory condition and move from one position to another. The method |
| 4965545 |
Shape memory alloy rotary actuator |
October 23, 1990 |
| A rotary actuator which provides a differential pulley pair having a shape memory alloy wire. The shape memory alloy wire is thermally cycled through its phase change transition temperature and contracts. Tension forces applied by the ends of the wires to opposite sides of the pulley pai |
