Patents by Inventor Daniel S. Watson

Daniel S. Watson 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).

  • Shape memory-based actuators and release mechanisms therefrom
    Patent number: 8209976
    Abstract: SM-based actuators (110) and release mechanisms (100) therefrom and systems (500) including one or more release mechanisms (100). The actuators (110) comprise a SM member (118) and a deformable member (140) mechanically coupled to the SM member (118) which deforms upon a shape change of the SM member triggered by a phase transition of the SM member. A retaining element (160) is mechanically coupled to the deformable member (140), wherein the retaining element (160) moves upon the shape change. Release mechanism (100) include an actuator, a rotatable mechanism (120) including at least one restraining feature (178) for restraining rotational movement of the retaining element (160) before the shape change, and at least one spring (315) that provides at least one locked spring-loaded position when the retaining element is in the restraining feature and at least one released position that is reached when the retaining element is in a position beyond the restraining feature (178).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajan Vaidyanathan, Daniel W. Snyder, David K. Schoenwald, Nhin S. Lam, Daniel S. Watson, Vinu B. Krishnan, Ronald D. Noebe
  • SHAPE MEMORY-BASED ACTUATORS AND RELEASE MECHANISMS THEREFROM
    Publication number: 20110173969
    Abstract: SM-based actuators (110) and release mechanisms (100) therefrom and systems (500) including one or more release mechanisms (100). The actuators (110) comprise a SM member (118) and a deformable member (140) mechanically coupled to the SM member (118) which deforms upon a shape change of the SM member triggered by a phase transition of the SM member. A retaining element (160) is mechanically coupled to the deformable member (140), wherein the retaining element (160) moves upon the shape change. Release mechanism (100) include an actuator, a rotatable mechanism (120) including at least one restraining feature (178) for restraining rotational movement of the retaining element (160) before the shape change, and at least one spring (315) that provides at least one locked spring-loaded position when the retaining element is in the restraining feature and at least one released position that is reached when the retaining element is in a position beyond the restraining feature (178).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Rajan Vaidyanathan, Daniel W. Snyder, David K. Schoenwald, Nhin S. Lam, Daniel S. Watson, Vinu B. Krishnan, Ronald D. Noebe