Patents by Inventor Benjamin M. Copeland, Jr.

Benjamin M. Copeland, Jr. 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).

  • Advanced layered composite polylaminate electroactive actuator and sensor
    Patent number: 6060811
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the mounting of pre-stressed electroactive material in such a manner that large displacement actuators or sensors result. The invention comprises mounting the pre-stressed electroactive material to a support layer. This combination of a pre-stressed electroactive material and support layer may in turn be attached to a mounting surface. The pre-stressed electroactive material may be a ferroelectric, pyroelectric, piezoelectric, or magnetostrictive material. The size, stiffness, mass, and material of the support layer is selected to result in the electroactive device having dynamic response properties, environmental capability characteristics, and the required resilience optimized for a given application. The capacity to connect the support layer to a surface expands the arenas in which the pre-stressed electroactive device may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert L. Fox, Richard F. Hellbaum, Robert G. Bryant, Benjamin M. Copeland, Jr.