Patents by Inventor Andrew Meng-Cheung Young

Andrew Meng-Cheung Young 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).

  • Publication number: 20020061695
    Abstract: This invention provides a toy vehicle incorporating actuators made from a shape memory alloy material. These actuators may be in the form of a spring, wire or similar form that has a mechanical response upon the application or removal of heat. In particular, wires may be connected about hinges for doors, hoods, convertible roofs and other such items which, upon the application of heat to the wire of shape memory ally, causes contraction of the wire and rotation about the hinged joint of the body part. As such shape memory ally actuators are generally only operable in a single direction, they may be provided in pairs or in opposition to another biasing means to cause the opposed rotation about the joint when desired. The preferred source of heat to the shape memory alloy actuators is through the provision of electrical energy to the wire to create heat through the resistance of the shape memory alloy actuator itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Li-Min Zhou, Boon-Wai Shiu, Andrew Meng-Cheung Young
  • Patent number: 6390878
    Abstract: This invention provides a toy vehicle incorporating actuators made from a shape memory alloy material. These actuators may be in the form of a spring, wire or similar form that has a mechanical response upon the application or removal of heat. In particular, wires may be connected about hinges for doors, hoods, convertible roofs and other such items which, upon the application of heat to the wire of shape memory alloy, causes contraction of the wire and rotation about the hinged joint of the body part. As such shape memory alloy actuators are generally only operably in a single direction, they may be provided in pairs or in opposition to another biasing means to cause the opposed rotation about the joint when desired. The preferred source of heat to the shape memory alloy actuators is through the provision of electrical energy to the wire to create heat through the resistance of the shape memory alloy actuator itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Li-Min Zhou, Boon-Wai Shiu, Andrew Meng-Cheung Young