Patents by Inventor Dean E. Myers

Dean E. Myers 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 Alloy Actuators And Methods Thereof
    Publication number: 20240077782
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis
  • Miniature Pressure/Force Sensor With Integrated Leads
    Publication number: 20240068889
    Abstract: A pressure/force sensor comprises a diaphragm structure including a sensing element and a lead structure extending from the diaphragm structure and including first and second traces electrically coupled to the sensing element. The diaphragm structure and the lead structure include a circuit assembly comprising a common insulating layer and a common conductor layer on the insulating layer. The conductor layer includes at least a portion of the sensing element and at least the first trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Michael W. Davis, Peter F. Ladwig, Matthew S. Lang, Dean E. Myers, Clark T. Olsen, Douglas P. Riemer
  • Component identification
    Patent number: 11907790
    Abstract: An identification device includes a first metal layer patterned into a planar coil winding and a second metal layer electrically connected to the first metal layer. The first metal layer is operable to provide a circuit inductance. The second metal layer is patterned to provide one or more overlapping areas with the first metal layer. The second metal layer is operable to provide a circuit capacitance. The identification device includes a dielectric layer separating the first metal layer and the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Clark T. Olsen, Beauregard J. Gagnon
  • Miniature pressure/force sensor with integrated leads
    Patent number: 11867575
    Abstract: A pressure/force sensor comprises a diaphragm structure including a sensing element and a lead structure extending from the diaphragm structure and including first and second traces electrically coupled to the sensing element. The diaphragm structure and the lead structure include a circuit assembly comprising a common insulating layer and a common conductor layer on the insulating layer. The conductor layer includes at least a portion of the sensing element and at least the first trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael W. Davis, Peter F. Ladwig, Matthew S. Lang, Dean E. Myers, Clark T. Olsen, Douglas P. Riemer
  • Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
    Patent number: 11867160
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis
  • Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
    Patent number: 11686294
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Yasushi Sakamoto
  • Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
    Patent number: 11448853
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka
  • Shape Memory Alloy Actuators And Methods Thereof
    Publication number: 20220252055
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Yasushi Sakamoto
  • Shape memory alloy wire attachment structures with adhesive for a suspension assembly
    Patent number: 11409070
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a suspension assembly having a support member, a moving member movably coupled to the support member, and shape metal alloy wires coupled between the support and moving members by attachment structures. According to various embodiments, the attachment structures include at least one of: an adhesive disposed proximate to a side of the attachment structures and between the attachment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Bryan J. Scheele, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Erich W. Bierbrauer, Mark A. Miller
  • Miniature Pressure/Force Sensor With Integrated Leads
    Publication number: 20220196494
    Abstract: A pressure/force sensor comprises a diaphragm structure including a sensing element and a lead structure extending from the diaphragm structure and including first and second traces electrically coupled to the sensing element. The diaphragm structure and the lead structure include a circuit assembly comprising a common insulating layer and a common conductor layer on the insulating layer. The conductor layer includes at least a portion of the sensing element and at least the first trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Michael W. Davis, Peter F. Ladwig, Matthew S. Lang, Dean E. Myers, Clark T. Olsen, Douglas P. Riemer
  • Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
    Patent number: 11333134
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Yasushi Sakamoto
  • Shape Memory Alloy Actuators And Methods Thereof
    Publication number: 20220106942
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis
  • Miniature pressure/force sensor with integrated leads
    Patent number: 11243127
    Abstract: A pressure/force sensor comprises a diaphragm structure including a sensing element and a lead structure extending from the diaphragm structure and including first and second traces electrically coupled to the sensing element. The diaphragm structure and the lead structure include a circuit assembly comprising a common insulating layer and a common conductor layer on the insulating layer. The conductor layer includes at least a portion of the sensing element and at least the first trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael W. Davis, Peter F. Ladwig, Matthew S. Lang, Dean E. Myers, Clark T. Olsen, Douglas P. Riemer
  • Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
    Patent number: 11199183
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis
  • Shape Memory Alloy Actuators And Methods Thereof
    Publication number: 20210381497
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka
  • Shape Memory Alloy Actuators And Methods Thereof
    Publication number: 20210294069
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka
  • Component Identification
    Publication number: 20210279545
    Abstract: An identification device includes a first metal layer patterned into a planar coil winding and a second metal layer electrically connected to the first metal layer. The first metal layer is operable to provide a circuit inductance. The second metal layer is patterned to provide one or more overlapping areas with the first metal layer. The second metal layer is operable to provide a circuit capacitance. The identification device includes a dielectric layer separating the first metal layer and the second metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Clark T. Olsen, Beauregard J. Gagnon
  • Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
    Patent number: 11105319
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka
  • Shape Memory Alloy Actuators And Methods Thereof
    Publication number: 20210207587
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Yasushi Sakamoto
  • Shape Memory Alloy Actuators And Methods Thereof
    Publication number: 20210131405
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis