Patents by Inventor Yasuo Kuga
Yasuo Kuga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7823467Abstract: An electroactive polymer is used to produce a tactile sensor. The electroactive polymer (EAP) includes a sheet of an ion-exchange membrane having opposite surfaces on which are plated gold electrodes. The EAP is formed to have a dome-shape with a plurality of sensing electrodes circumferentially disposed around an outer surface of the dome. A flexible polymer underlying the EAP supports it and prevents a force applied to the tactile sensor from inverting the dome. The sensor electrodes produce separate output signals indicative of different vector components of an applied force acting on the tactile sensor, so that a direction of the force can be determined. Vias provided in the electrodes are electrically coupled to a flexible circuit that conveys the output signals externally from the sensing electrodes for use and further processing. A plurality of the tactile sensors can be formed as an array on an ion-exchange membrane.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Minoru Taya, Jin Wang, Chunye Xu, Yasuo Kuga
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Patent number: 7667560Abstract: A membrane actuator includes a magnetically actuatable membrane and a magnetic trigger. The membrane includes a shape memory alloy (SMA), and the magnetic trigger is configured to induce a martensitic transformation in the SMA, to produce a larger force than would be achievable with non-SMA-based materials. Such a membrane actuator can be beneficially incorporated into a wide variety of devices, including fluid pumps, shock absorbing systems, and synthetic jet producing devices for use in an aircraft. The membrane/diaphragm can be formed from a ferromagnetic SMA, or a ferromagnetic material can be coupled with an SMA such that the SMA and the ferromagnetic material move together. A hybrid magnetic trigger, including a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, is preferably used for the magnetic trigger, as hybrid magnetic triggers are easy to control, and produce larger magnetic gradients than permanent magnets or electromagnets alone.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Minoru Taya, Robert Yuanchang Liang, Yasuo Kuga
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Patent number: 7629921Abstract: A resonance confocal imaging of resonance control points method and system. The method includes receiving a far-field scattered response from a structure. The method further includes determining resonant frequencies from said far-field scattered response. Then, determining resonant control points of said structure from said far-field scattered response at the resonant frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2004Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Charles Manry, John W. Rockway, John D. Rockway, Akira Ishimaru, Yasuo Kuga
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Publication number: 20090165569Abstract: An electroactive polymer is used to produce a tactile sensor. The electroactive polymer (EAP) includes a sheet of an ion-exchange membrane having opposite surfaces on which are plated gold electrodes. The EAP is formed to have a dome-shape with a plurality of sensing electrodes circumferentially disposed around an outer surface of the dome. A flexible polymer underlying the EAP supports it and prevents a force applied to the tactile sensor from inverting the dome. The sensor electrodes produce separate output signals indicative of different vector components of an applied force acting on the tactile sensor, so that a direction of the force can be determined. Vias provided in the electrodes are electrically coupled to a flexible circuit that conveys the output signals externally from the sensing electrodes for use and further processing. A plurality of the tactile sensors can be formed as an array on an ion-exchange membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: University of WashingtonInventors: Minoru Taya, Jin Wang, Chunye Xu, Yasuo Kuga
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Publication number: 20080197208Abstract: A membrane actuator includes a magnetically actuatable membrane and a magnetic trigger. The membrane includes a shape memory alloy (SMA), and the magnetic trigger is configured to induce a martensitic transformation in the SMA, to produce a larger force than would be achievable with non-SMA-based materials. Such a membrane actuator can be beneficially incorporated into a wide variety of devices, including fluid pumps, shock absorbing systems, and synthetic jet producing devices for use in an aircraft. The membrane/diaphragm can be formed from a ferromagnetic SMA, or a ferromagnetic material can be coupled with an SMA such that the SMA and the ferromagnetic material move together. A hybrid magnetic trigger, including a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, is preferably used for the magnetic trigger, as hybrid magnetic triggers are easy to control, and produce larger magnetic gradients than permanent magnets or electromagnets alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: University of WashingtonInventors: Minoru Taya, Robert Yuanchang Liang, Yasuo Kuga
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Patent number: 7280016Abstract: A membrane actuator includes a magnetically actuatable membrane and a magnetic trigger. The membrane includes a shape memory alloy (SMA), and the magnetic trigger is configured to induce a martensitic transformation in the SMA, to produce a larger force than would be achievable with non-SMA-based materials. Such a membrane actuator can be beneficially incorporated into a wide variety of devices, including fluid pumps, shock absorbing systems, and synthetic jet producing devices for use in an aircraft. The membrane/diaphragm can be formed from a ferromagnetic SMA, or a ferromagnetic material can be coupled with an SMA such that the SMA and the ferromagnetic material move together. A hybrid magnetic trigger, including a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, is preferably used for the magnetic trigger, as hybrid magnetic triggers are easy to control, and produce larger magnetic gradients than permanent magnets or electromagnets alone.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2005Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Minoru Taya, Robert Yuanchang Liang, Yasuo Kuga
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Publication number: 20070205853Abstract: A membrane actuator includes a magnetically actuatable membrane and a magnetic trigger. The membrane includes a shape memory alloy (SMA), and the magnetic trigger is configured to induce a martensitic transformation in the SMA, to produce a larger force than would be achievable with non-SMA-based materials. Such a membrane actuator can be beneficially incorporated into a wide variety of devices, including fluid pumps, shock absorbing systems, and synthetic jet producing devices for use in an aircraft. The membrane/diaphragm can be formed from a ferromagnetic SMA, or a ferromagnetic material can be coupled with an SMA such that the SMA and the ferromagnetic material move together. A hybrid magnetic trigger, including a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, is preferably used for the magnetic trigger, as hybrid magnetic triggers are easy to control, and produce larger magnetic gradients than permanent magnets or electromagnets alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2005Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: University of WashingtonInventors: Minoru Taya, Robert Liang, Yasuo Kuga
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Patent number: 4174500Abstract: A plurality of measurement readout displays electrically insulated from one another are provided on a plate member, each of which displays is performed by making use of an excitable material which is capable of being visible only upon the application of a voltage thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1977Date of Patent: November 13, 1979Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sanwa Denki SeisakushoInventor: Yasuo Kuga