Magnetostrictive Chamber Patents (Class 417/322)
  • Patent number: 11920578
    Abstract: A valve includes a first plate having a first vent hole; a second plate defining a valve chamber, which communicates with the first vent hole, between the second plate and the first plate, the second plate having a second vent hole that communicates with the valve chamber and that does not face the first vent hole; and a movable plate having a third vent hole that faces the second vent hole and disposed in the valve chamber such that the movable plate is movable between the first plate and the second plate. The second plate has an auxiliary hole that does not face the third vent hole in the movable plate, the auxiliary hole being surrounded by an edge portion that forms a first corner portion having a substantially convex rounded shape in front view of a principal surface of the second plate at a side facing the valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yokoi, Nobuhira Tanaka, Daisuke Kondo
  • Patent number: 11906293
    Abstract: A 1D ultrasonic transducer unit for material detection, comprising a housing having securing device for securing to a surface and having at least three discrete ultrasonic transducers designed to decouple sound waves with a consistent operating frequency between 20 kHz and 400 kHz in a gaseous medium, and a control unit designed to control each ultrasonic transducer individually, wherein two ultrasonic transducers, directly adjacent to one another, are spaced apart by a distance, the 1D ultrasonic transducer unit has a sound channel per ultrasonic transducer with an input opening, associated with exactly one respective ultrasonic transducer, and an output opening, the output openings are arranged along a straight line, a distance from the directly adjacent output opening corresponds at most to the full or half the wavelength in the gaseous medium and is smaller than the corresponding distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs SE
    Inventors: Regine Augenstein, Thomas Kaindl
  • Patent number: 11841251
    Abstract: A tube device is disclosed comprising a tube having at least one deformable component and one or more sensor elements. At least one of the one or more sensor elements is pattered or attached on the at least one deformable component of the tube and being configured to measure at least one property or condition of a substance contained or streamed inside the tube. The at least one deformable component can be at least one integral part of a wall section of the tube, or at least one deformable element attached to the tube, or at least one deformable element attached to respective at least one support element attached to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: EZMEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Nicola Molinazzi, Tsvi Shmilovich
  • Patent number: 11835041
    Abstract: A MEMS pump includes a basis structure, a membrane structure opposing the basis structure and being deflectable parallel to a surface normal of the basis structure and includes a pump chamber between the basis structure and the membrane structure wherein a volume of the pump chamber is based on a position of the membrane structure with respect to the basis structure. The MEMS pump includes a passage for letting a fluid pass into the pump chamber or exit the pump chamber, wherein the passage is arranged in-plane with respect to the pump chamber. The MEMS pump includes a valve structure coupled to the passage for connecting, in a first state, the passage to a first outer volume and for connecting, in a second state, the passage to a second outer volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Martin Seidl, Alfons Dehe, Daniel Fruechtl, Wolfgang Klein, Ulrich Krumbein, Johann Strasser, Matthias Vobl
  • Patent number: 11817761
    Abstract: Aircraft electric motors are described. The aircraft electric motors include a motor unit having a rotor and a stator, wherein the stator includes a plurality of windings and cooling channels arranged to provide cooling to the plurality of windings, a drive unit configured to drive operation of the motor unit, and a cooling system having at least one directional feature forming a portion of at least one cooling channel, the at least one directional feature configured to prevent backflow of a cooling fluid that passes through the at least one cooling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abbas A. Alahyari, Joseph Turney, Jagadeesh Kumar Tangudu, Kimberly Rae Saviers
  • Patent number: 11739745
    Abstract: A micropump system (100) for a compressible fluid (102) includes a plurality of micropumps (110), rigid flow duct elements (120), a control unit (130), and one or two printed circuit boards (140). The micropumps have an intake opening (112) and an outlet opening (114). The rigid flow duct elements are connected to a respective micropump via a respective, elastically sealed port (122) and with the micropumps form a flow path (104) for the fluid. The one or two printed circuit boards are arranged and configured to electrically connect the control unit to the plurality of micropumps. Each micropump is rigidly fastened to the one or two printed circuit boards via a respective fastening device. A pressure build-up of the fluid flowing through the plurality of micropumps during the use, which is cascaded due to the plurality of micropumps, is provided at a system outlet (106) of the micropump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co KGaA
    Inventor: Hans-Ullrich Hansmann
  • Patent number: 11710678
    Abstract: A piezoelectric cooling system and method for driving the cooling system are described. The piezoelectric cooling system includes a first piezoelectric cooling element and a second piezoelectric cooling element. The first piezoelectric cooling element is configured to direct a fluid toward a surface of a heat-generating structure. The second piezoelectric cooling element is configured to direct the fluid to an outlet area after heat has been transferred to the fluid by the heat-generating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Frore Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Suryaprakash Ganti, Seshagiri Rao Madhavapeddy, Leonard Eugene Fennell, Vikram Mukundan
  • Patent number: 11517669
    Abstract: An infusion pump including a fluid chamber having an outlet valve and a piezo-stack actuator including a stack of piezo-electric layers. The infusion pump also includes a linear actuator to measure displacement of the piezo-stack actuator during operation. An electronic processor is programmed to operate the outlet valve and the piezo-stack actuator to pump fluid through the fluid chamber at a programmed flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald Paul Consiglio, Francis Patrick O'Neill
  • Patent number: 11506194
    Abstract: A method of producing a flow of a fluid through a passage (24) defined in a rigid frame (22) comprises selectively actuating a flexible membrane (38) disposed across a midpoint of the passage (24) with an actuating system in a manner which produces a wave-like motion in the membrane (38) thereby causing a peristaltic movement of the fluid through the passage (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Rudolf Maria Jozef Voncken, Johannes Wilhelmus Weekamp, Mareike Klee, Sergei Shulepov
  • Patent number: 11486839
    Abstract: A diagnostic cassette includes a substrate, to physically and electrically connect the product to a computing device, a reservoir defined within the substrate to receive a fluid sample for processing by the diagnostic cassette, a reagent to react with the fluid sample deposited in the reservoir to form a solution to enable processing of the fluid sample by the diagnostic cassette, a channel to direct the solution, and a sensor to measure a number of parameters of the solution passing through the channel. A method for measuring microfluidic samples includes receiving, in a reservoir, a fluid sample to be measured, combining the fluid sample with a reagent to create a solution, moving the solution through a channel, and measuring the solution, using sensors, as the solution passes through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Cooper McGuinness, Manish Giri, Chantelle Elizabeth Domingue, Melinda M. Valencia, Jeremy Sells
  • Patent number: 11454563
    Abstract: A micro pressure sensor includes a body having a compartmentalized chamber provided by membranes anchored between opposing walls of the body and carrying electrodes disposed on surfaces of the membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Encite LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Alan Marsh
  • Patent number: 11391278
    Abstract: A fluid control device includes a piezoelectric pump, a piezoelectric pump, a valve, and a container. The piezoelectric pump and the piezoelectric pump repeat the operation and the stop in accordance with a drive control cycle. The valve starts a control to close at the start timing of one cycle of the drive control cycle and starts a control to open at the stop of the piezoelectric pump and the piezoelectric pump. The time from the start timing of one cycle of the drive control cycle to the time at which the piezoelectric pump on the upstream side pump reaches a normal operation drive voltage is longer than the time from the start timing to the time at which the piezoelectric pump on the downstream side reaches a normal operation drive voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenjiro Okaguchi
  • Patent number: 11204026
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating a flow of gas comprises a frame having a passage defined therethrough. The passage extends a length along a central longitudinal axis from an inlet to an outlet and has a first side and a second side. A flexible pumping membrane is disposed within the passage. The membrane has a first edge coupled to the first side of the passage at a midline thereof and a second edge, disposed opposite the first edge, coupled to the second side of the passage at a midline thereof. The membrane segregates the frame into an upper portion and a lower portion. The apparatus also includes an actuating system which is structured to selectively move portions of the membrane toward either the upper portion or the lower portion of the frame in a manner which causes a wave-like movement in the pumping membrane and creates the flow of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Rudolf Maria Jozef Voncken, Johannes Wilhelmus Weekamp, Mareike Klee, Sergei Shulepov
  • Patent number: 11174855
    Abstract: A micro pump (10) is provided, wherein the micro pump (10) includes a housing main body (1), a housing upper part (3), a housing lower part (2) and at least one locking structure (4). The housing upper part (3) includes at least one inlet valve (1a) and at least one outlet valve (1b). The housing upper part (3) is separate from the housing main body (1). The housing lower part (2) is separate from the housing main body (1) and the housing upper part (3), wherein the housing main body (1) is arranged in a sandwich-like manner between the housing upper part (3) and the housing lower part (2), such that the housing upper part (3) is operatively coupled with the housing lower part (2) via the at least one locking structure (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PLAN OPTIK AG
    Inventors: Alexander Rasnatovski, Michael Schilling, Alexander Schilling
  • Patent number: 11092150
    Abstract: Disclosed is a valve-less micro pump configuration that includes plural micro pump elements, each including a pump body having a compartmentalized pump chamber, with plural unobstructed inlet ports and outlet ports and a plurality of membranes disposed in the pump chamber to provide compartments. The membranes are anchored between opposing walls of the pump body and carry electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of the membranes and walls of the pump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Encite LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Alan Marsh
  • Patent number: 11035353
    Abstract: A volumetric pump, comprising: at least one deformable enclosure, which defines at least one variable-volume chamber, each of the at least one chamber being provided with an intake passage and with an outflow passage, magnetically-actuated elements, which act on portions of the deformable closure in order to deform the deformable enclosure between an extended configuration, having a larger volume, and a compressed configuration, having a smaller volume, drive elements for the actuation of the magnetically-actuated elements, a load-bearing frame on which the at least one deformable enclosure and the drive elements are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Edoardo Albertin, Giacomo Boin
  • Patent number: 11022470
    Abstract: The invention relates to a free-jet dosing system for dosing a free fluid jet to be dispensed. The free-jet dosing system includes, inter alia, a pump including an inlet and an outlet and configured to deliver fluid to be dispensed to the outlet. The free-jet dosing system further includes a dosage monitoring device arranged on the outlet side of the pump, the dosage monitoring device having an opening through which at least some of the fluid to be dispensed may pass, and the dosage monitoring device having a flow rate meter configured to determine the flow rate of the fluid which passes through the opening of the dosage monitoring device. In the inventive free-jet dosing system, the opening of the dosage monitoring device is configured as an outlet nozzle for ejecting the free fluid jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Martin Richter, Martin Wackerle, Sebastian Kibler
  • Patent number: 10933436
    Abstract: A method for jetting a viscous medium onto a substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing viscous medium to a jetting chamber of an ejector, operating an impacting device to impact a volume of the viscous medium in the chamber such that viscous medium is jetted through a nozzle, connected to the chamber, towards the substrate, and monitoring a displacement of the impacting device during impact. An ejector and a system comprising such an ejector and a control unit is also disclosed. The monitoring of the displacement allows for the operation of the impacting device to be controlled accordingly, thereby providing for an improved control of the jetting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mycronic AB
    Inventor: Daniel Brevemark
  • Patent number: 10930838
    Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a magnetostrictive actuator characterized by linear force output and uniform magnetic biasing. A center bias magnet combined with a flux transfer tube produces a uniform magnetic bias down the length of a magnetostrictive component. Depending on the inventive embodiment, the magnetostrictive component may include one magnetostrictive element or a pair of collinear magnetostrictive elements. A center bias magnet, in combination with a flux transfer tube, drives magnetic flux through the magnetostrictive component (e.g., a series of magnetostrictive rods) in opposite directions, while surrounding drive coils apply flux in the same direction through the magnetostrictive component. The net response is substantially linear with respect to the drive coil current. The flux transfer tube applies distributed magnetic flux to the magnetostrictive component at a rate that ensures uniform magnetic flux density down the length of the magnetostrictive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Unites States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John E. Miesner
  • Patent number: 10895254
    Abstract: A monitoring system may include a position sensor, a strain gauge, and a computing device for determining the condition of a valve in a chamber of a pump using strain measurements. The strain gauge may determine strain in the chamber. The position sensor may determine the position of a crankshaft coupled to a plunger in the chamber. The computing device may receive signals generated by the strain gauge and the position sensor related to the strain in the chamber and the position of the crankshaft, respectively, and may process the signals to determine delays in the actuation of the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Beisel
  • Patent number: 10890171
    Abstract: A pump (1) includes a vibrating plate (15) that has a central part (21), a frame part (22), and connecting parts (23 to 26), a piezoelectric element (16) that is stacked over the central part (21) and configured to cause flexural vibrations to occur concentrically from the central part (21) to the connecting parts (23 to 26), and an opposed plate (13) that is stacked over the frame part (22) and positioned facing each of the connecting parts (23 to 26) with a spacing therebetween. The vibrating plate (15) has such a resonant mode that an antinode occurs in each of the central part (21) and the connecting parts (23 to 26). The opposed plate (13) has, at positions facing the connecting parts (23 to 26), a plurality of channel holes (39 to 43) through which a fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Hirata, Yukiharu Kodama
  • Patent number: 10883494
    Abstract: A fluid control apparatus includes a piezoelectric pump and valve. The valve includes a second valve housing, second seal member, diaphragm, first seal member, and first valve housing and has a structure in which they are laminated in sequence. The first valve housing includes a second vent and third vent, has a valve seat, and includes six cavities. The second valve housing has a first vent and first vent and includes a valve seat and six first protrusions. The second valve housing further includes six second protrusions nearer the outer edges than the six first protrusions, as seen in the x-axis direction in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kawamura, Tsuyoshi Waku, Yukinori Sakuraya
  • Patent number: 10718190
    Abstract: Methods of dissociating and recovering methane from solid hydrate deposits are provided. A method for recovering methane from a methane hydrate includes at least applying electromagnetic radiation to the methane hydrate to dissociate the methane-water bond. Further provided is an apparatus for dissociating methane from a methane hydrate. The apparatus includes at least: an electromagnetic spectrum power source; a probe connected to the electromagnetic spectrum power source; an antenna connected to the distal end of the probe is capable of focusing a radiated beam into a target area of a methane hydrate; and a control system in communication with and capable of controlling the electromagnetic spectrum power source, the probe, and the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Upendra Wickrema Singhe
  • Patent number: 10718323
    Abstract: A synthetic jet pump and a method of pumping fluid using such a synthetic jet pump are disclosed. The synthetic jet pump includes a plurality of first stacks disposed in a series arrangement relative to each other, and a plurality of first valves. A first stack of the plurality of first stacks includes a plurality of first connector pairs coupled to a first support structure and a plurality of first bimorph pairs. The first connector pairs and the first bimorph pairs are disposed in a parallel arrangement relative to each other respectively. A bimorph of one of the first bimorph pairs is coupled to a corresponding first connector pair. The plurality of first valves is disposed at an upstream end of the plurality of first stacks. A valve of the plurality of first valves is movably coupled to a corresponding connector of the plurality of the first connector pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: NUOVO PIGNONE TECNOLOGIE SRL
    Inventors: Grover Andrew Bennett, Jr., Matthew Patrick Boespflug, Tak Kwong Woo
  • Patent number: 10629514
    Abstract: An assembly of synthetic jet devices is provided for cooling a heat sink. The assembly includes a mounting member for coupling to a heat sink including a plurality of fins, and a plurality of synthetic jet devices. Each of the plurality of synthetic jet devices includes an actuation module having a first actuator and a first plate opposite a second actuator and a second plate, and an extension module operably coupling the actuation module to the mounting member. Each actuation module of a synthetic jet device is configured to be suspended within a channel between two fins of the plurality of fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: OZYEGIN UNIVERSITESI
    Inventors: Mehmet Arik, Mohammed Ikhlaq
  • Patent number: 10563648
    Abstract: A membrane vacuum pump has at least one working space which is bounded by a membrane deformable to change the size of the working space and by a wall in which at least one inlet and at least one outlet are formed for a medium which is sucked into the working space which increases in size in so doing in a suction phase and is expelled via the outlet from the working space which decreases in size in so doing in a compression phase. The membrane vacuum pump furthermore has a controllable actuator unit for deforming the membrane by a contactless action on the membrane by means of electrical and/or magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Conrad
  • Patent number: 10535457
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to compress locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to a perpendicular concentrated portion of a magnetic field. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may also include at least one permanent magnet in proximity to the MSM element. The permanent magnet may generate a significant portion of the magnetic field. By successively applying, reversing, and reducing or eliminating electrical currents applied to the conductive coils, a position of the perpendicular concentrated portion of the magnetic field may be moved relative to the MSM element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Peter Mullner, Andrew Armstrong, Kevin Finn, Nader Rafla
  • Patent number: 10528143
    Abstract: A fluidic switch (or fluidic device) is provided. The fluidic switch includes: (i) a housing defining a cavity with a first opening and a second opening, the second opening being larger than the first opening, the cavity containing an elastic substance, (ii) a channel to transport a fluid from a source, across the first opening, to a drain, where the first opening opens into the channel, and (iii) an actuator to apply a force through the second opening to the elastic substance in the cavity when actuated, the force to displace a portion of the elastic substance into the channel to impede transport of the fluid through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Serol Turkyilmaz
  • Patent number: 10487821
    Abstract: A miniature fluid control device includes a piezoelectric actuator and a housing. The piezoelectric actuator comprises a suspension plate, an outer frame, at least one bracket and a piezoelectric ceramic plate. The piezoelectric ceramic plate is attached on a first surface of the suspension plate and has a length not larger than that of the suspension plate. The housing includes a gas collecting plate and a base. The gas collecting plate is a frame body with a sidewall and comprises a plurality of perforations. The base seals a bottom of the piezoelectric actuator and has a central aperture corresponding to the middle portion of the suspension plate. When the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator, the suspension plate is permitted to undergo the curvy vibration, the fluid is transferred from the central aperture of the base to the gas-collecting chamber, and exited from the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Chen, Chi-Feng Huang, Yung-Lung Han, Jia-Yu Liao, Shou-Hung Chen, Che-Wei Huang, Hung-Hsin Liao, Chao-Chih Chen, Jheng-Wei Chen, Ying-Lun Chang, Chia-Hao Chang, Wei-Ming Lee
  • Patent number: 10480502
    Abstract: A pump (1) includes a vibrating plate (15) that has a central part (21), a frame part (22), and connecting parts (23 to 26), a piezoelectric element (16) that is stacked over the central part (21) and configured to cause flexural vibrations to occur concentrically from the central part (21) to the connecting parts (23 to 26), and an opposed plate (13) that is stacked over the frame part (22) and positioned facing each of the connecting parts (23 to 26) with a spacing therebetween. The vibrating plate (15) has such a resonant mode that an antinode occurs in each of the central part (21) and the connecting parts (23 to 26). The opposed plate (13) has, at positions facing the connecting parts (23 to 26), a plurality of channel holes (39 to 43) through which a fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Hirata, Yukiharu Kodama
  • Patent number: 10408215
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to contract locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to local exposure to a magnetic field distribution component that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Peter Müllner
  • Patent number: 10393101
    Abstract: A microfluidic device (100) comprising at least one passive valve (PV, 120, 130), the passive valve being constituted by a sequence of a first carrier layer (CL 1) with an aperture providing a passage (P 1) for fluid flow, a first binding layer (BLI) with a first opening, a flexible layer (FL) with a through-hole (TH), a second binding layer (BL2) with a second opening, and a second carrier layer (CL2). Moreover, the flexible layer (FL) can move within a valve chamber (VC) constituted by the openings. Depending on the pressure difference across the passive valve (PV), the flexible layer (FL) can bend towards the first carrier layer (CLI) and close the aperture, while it opens the passage (P1) when bending in the opposite direction. Two of such properly oriented passive valves together with an intermediate active valve (AV) can constitute a one-stroke pump. A method for manufacturing such a fluidic device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Theodorus Wilhelmus Maria Van Eemeren, Irene Johanna Monica Dobbelaer-Bosboom, Pieter Jan Van Der Zaag
  • Patent number: 10364910
    Abstract: A fluid control device includes a piezoelectric actuator and a deformable substrate. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate. The piezoelectric element is attached on a surface of the vibration plate. The piezoelectric element is subjected to deformation in response to an applied voltage. The vibration plate is subjected to a curvy vibration in response to the deformation of the piezoelectric element. The deformable substrate includes a flexible plate and a communication plate, which are stacked on each other. Consequently, a synchronously-deformed structure is defined by the flexible plate and the communication plate collaboratively. There is a specified depth between the flexible plate and the vibration plate. The flexible plate includes a movable part corresponding to the vibration plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Lung Han, Chi-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 10359622
    Abstract: A transfer circuitry, e.g. in a display system, electrically generating a transfer-gradient along which an optically-active fluid is transferred via a valve from a first reservoir to a second reservoir and a valve-control circuitry providing a voltage to change the valve's shape from a first shape when it is closed to a second shape when it is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Jyrki Kimmel
  • Patent number: 10344753
    Abstract: Discloses is a micro-pump that includes a pump body having a compartmentalized pump chamber, with plural inlet and outlet ports and a plurality of membranes disposed in the pump chamber to provide compartments. The membranes are anchored between opposing walls of the pump body and carry electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of the membranes and walls of the pump body. Also discloses are applications of the micro-pump including as a heat remover and a self-contained continuous positive airway pressure breathing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Encite LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Alan Marsh
  • Patent number: 10294933
    Abstract: A disc pump includes a pump body having a cavity for containing a fluid. The disc pump also includes an actuator adapted to hold an electrostatic charge to cause an oscillatory motion at a drive frequency. The disc pump further includes a conductive plate positioned to face the actuator outside of the cavity and adapted to provide an electric field of reversible polarity, the conductive plate being electrically associated with the actuator to cause the actuator to oscillate at the drive frequency in response to reversing the polarity of the electric field. The disc pump further includes a valve disposed in at least one of a first aperture and a second aperture in the pump body. The oscillation of the actuator at the drive frequency causes fluid flow through the first aperture and the second aperture when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Aidan Marcus Tout
  • Patent number: 10288192
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a square suspension plate, an outer frame, plural brackets and a square piezoelectric ceramic plate. The outer frame is arranged around the suspension plate. A second surface of the outer frame and a second surface of the suspension plate are coplanar with each other. The plural brackets are perpendicularly connected between the suspension plate and the outer frame for elastically supporting the suspension plate. Each bracket has a length in a range between 1.11 mm and 1.21 mm and a width in a range between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm. A length of the piezoelectric ceramic plate is not larger than a length of the suspension plate. The piezoelectric ceramic plate is attached on a first surface of the suspension plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Lung Han, Chi-Feng Huang, Shih-Chang Chen, Jia-Yu Liao, Hung-Hsin Liao, Che-Wei Huang, Shou-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 10275080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a current to a shape memory alloy of an actuator; determining a first resistance of the shape memory alloy; determining, after measuring the first resistance, a second resistance of the shape memory alloy; performing a comparison between the first resistance and the second resistance to detect a resistance change; and ceasing, based on detection of the resistance change, application of the current to the shape memory alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Felix Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10260657
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a square suspension plate, an outer frame, plural brackets and a square piezoelectric ceramic plate. The outer frame is arranged around the suspension plate. A second surface of the outer frame and a second surface of the suspension plate are coplanar with each other. The plural brackets are perpendicularly connected between the suspension plate and the outer frame for elastically supporting the suspension plate. Each bracket has a length in a range between 1.11 mm and 1.21 mm and a width in a range between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm. A length of the piezoelectric ceramic plate is not larger than a length of the suspension plate. The piezoelectric ceramic plate is attached on a first surface of the suspension plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Lung Han, Chi-Feng Huang, Shih-Chang Chen, Jia-Yu Liao, Hung-Hsin Liao, Che-Wei Huang, Shou-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 10234950
    Abstract: A fluidic switch (or fluidic device) is provided. The fluidic switch includes: (i) a housing defining a cavity with a first opening and a second opening, the second opening being larger than the first opening, the cavity containing a viscoelastic substance, (ii) a channel to transport a fluid from a source, across the first opening, to a drain, where the first opening opens into the channel, and (iii) an actuator to apply a force through the second opening to the viscoelastic substance in the cavity when actuated, the force to displace a portion of the viscoelastic substance into the channel to impede transport of the fluid through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Serol Turkyilmaz
  • Patent number: 10221843
    Abstract: Disc pump systems and methods relate to a disc pump system that includes a first disc pump having a first actuator and a second disc pump having a second actuator. The systems and methods utilize sensors to measure the displacements of the actuators and a processor to determine the pressure differential across each actuator as a function of the measured displacements of the actuators. The disc pumps are fluidly coupled by a known restriction and the processor determines the flow rate of the disc pump system based on the determined pressure differentials across each actuator and the characteristics of the known restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Aidan Marcus Tout
  • Patent number: 10180133
    Abstract: A channel-less microfluidic pump includes a cartridge including a substrate and an actuatable film layer disposed on the substrate, and a manifold having at least three actuatable void volumes separated by a plurality of wall sections and an actuatable flexible layer disposed on the manifold interfacing the actuatable film layer. In operation, the pump can be in an unactuated state wherein the actuatable film layer is disposed against the surface of the substrate or an actuated state wherein at least a portion of the flexible layer and a corresponding portion of the actuatable film layer are deflected into a corresponding void volume thus forming a fluidic volume between the deflected portion of the actuatable film layer and the surface of the substrate. In the actuated state, there is a fluidic gap between immediately adjacent void volumes formed by a thinned region of the flexible layer at a point of contact with a top surface of a wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: RHEONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Lincoln C. Young, Peng Zhou
  • Patent number: 10138916
    Abstract: The invention describes a dosing system (3) for a shear-thinning or thixotropic liquid to viscous dosing material. It comprises a nozzle (1) with a closure channel (55), within which a closure element (21) is controlled during operation by means of an automatic control unit (63) in an ejection direction (E) and/or retraction direction (R). To this end, the closure channel (55) is realized in at least one cross-section perpendicular to the ejection direction (E) and/or retraction direction (R) relative to the cross-section of the closure element (21) in the same plane to give an aperture gap (57) between the outer surface (S1) of the closure element (21) and the inner surface (S2) of the closure channel (55), which aperture gap (57) is shaped and/or dimensioned to form an outlet channel, at least in places, for the dosing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: VERMES MICRODISPENSING GMBH
    Inventors: Mario Fliess, Juergen Staedtler
  • Patent number: 10130759
    Abstract: A cartridge system of a multi-ported drug delivery device with independently actuated collapsible reservoirs, for delivery of medicaments, which includes membranes placed between disk magnets that are housed within pump body inserts. The pump body inserts having flow channels and fluid openings are between two inlet/outlet members with communication control through active valves and dynamically stressed membranes. The inlet/outlet members of the cartridge system each having a fluid outlet component and fluid openings are securely engaged to two or more reservoirs containing fluid medicaments. The cartridge system driven by the pump driver system delivers an appropriate dosage of medicament for treatment prescribed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PICOLIFE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Farid Amirouche, Matthew L. Cantwell
  • Patent number: 10126181
    Abstract: A temperature sensor including: a resonant structure vibrating to resonate at a resonating frequency that varies depending on temperature of a plate; at least one sound wave transmitter mounted onto the resonant structure to make the resonant structure vibrate at the resonating frequency; a sound wave receiver mounted onto the resonant structure and configured to capture sound waves propagating within the suspended structure; and connection elements configured to connect the at least one transmitter and receiver to an electronic unit outside the temperature sensor. The connection elements include a connector including four contact points including first and second contact points conveying a stereophonic sound signal, a third contact point providing a mass reference, and a fourth contact point conveying a microphone signal. The connection elements are configured to connect the at least one transmitter to the first and second contact points and connect the receiver to the fourth contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Nikolovski
  • Patent number: 10107270
    Abstract: A resistively heated shape memory polymer device is operated using resistive heating to heat the shape memory polymer device. The resistively heated shape memory polymer device is made by providing a wire that includes a resistive medium. The wire is coated with a first shape memory polymer. The wire is exposed and electrical leads are attached to the wire. In one embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a clot destruction device. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a microvalve. In another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a micropump. In yet another embodiment the shape memory polymer device is in the form of a thermostat or relay switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Marion, III, Jane P. Bearinger, Thomas S. Wilson, Ward Small, IV, Duncan J. Maitland
  • Patent number: 10100822
    Abstract: A pump includes a main chamber and a pair of valves on opposite ends of the main chamber. The respective valves each contain a freely movable member to selectively open and close each respective valve, wherein the freely movable member is formed from at least some of the same material used to form a chamber portion of the respective valves. A force applicator is coupled relative to the main chamber to alternately induce a suction action and an expulsion action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kianoush Naeli, David A. Moore
  • Patent number: 10037752
    Abstract: An acoustically resonating medium has one or more nodes and anti-nodes. Insulating a first side of a resonating medium at a node from ambient air and exposing the opposite second side of the resonating medium at the node to ambient air results in thrust in the direction of the first side. Insulating the second side of a resonating medium at an anti-node from ambient air and exposing the first side of the medium at the anti-node to ambient air also results in thrust in the direction of the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: David A Colasante
  • Patent number: 9976547
    Abstract: A piezoelectric blower includes a valve, a housing, a vibrating plate, and a piezoelectric element. The vibrating plate forms, together with the housing, a column-shaped blower chamber such that the blower chamber is interposed therebetween in a thickness direction of the vibrating plate. The vibrating plate and the housing are formed such that the blower chamber has a radius (a). The piezoelectric element causes the vibrating plate to undergo concentric bending vibration at a resonance frequency (f). The radius (a) of the blower chamber and the resonance frequency (f) of the vibrating plate satisfy a relationship of 0.8×(k0c)/(2?)?af?1.2×(k0c)/(2?), where an acoustic velocity of gas that passes through the blower chamber is (c) and a value that satisfies a relationship of a Bessel function of a first kind of J0(k0)=0 is k0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuhira Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9845796
    Abstract: An apparatus that is capable of propelling a gas includes a first layer and a second layer arranged in a stack, mechanism for heating and/or cooling the first layer and the second layer to form a hot layer and a cold layer, and a through hole in the stack. A surface of both the hot layer and the cold layer is exposed in an interior of the through hole. The mechanism for heating and/or cooling the first and second layers controls the hot layer to be hotter than an ambient temperature of the gas, and the cold layer to be colder than the ambient temperature of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GAME CHANGERS, LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Sanchez, Piotr A. Garbuz, Andrew D. Zonenberg