Abstract: A semi-wave transducer is provided that comprises a circular or elliptic transduction shell that has sidewalls captured between identical opposing upper and lower circular or elliptic conical segments (platens), each having a surface geometry of a radially symmetric wave shape that includes a center region and a rim wherein the distance between the center region of the upper and lower platens greater than the distance between the rims of the upper and lower platens. In some embodiments, the surface geometry of the platens may be a jinc function or a recurve function.

Abstract: A process that permits existing thick film printing technology to be utilized with existing conductive adhesives to form multi-layer dielectric devices, more specifically to form multi-layer ferroelectric devices, and more specifically to form multilayer piezoelectric devices. A conductive paste is applied to a first surface of a piezoelectric element in a desired pattern. The disclosed process utilizes conductive paste, which replaces the usual adhesive requirement for bonding while still acting as the conductive layer between the individual elements of the stacked sintered substrates. An isolating filler paste is applied to the first surface of the piezoelectric element in a manner that electrically isolates the conductive pattern as to enable multiple distinct, possibly unequal, regions of electric potential. This paste also may assist bonding and will prevent shorting between the electrically non-equivalent regions of the overall electrode pattern.

Abstract: A transdermal micro-patch for use with living tissue is provided. The micro-patch includes a first membrane, a reservoir, a micro-pump, flextensional transducers, a microelectronics circuit, and an optional sensor. The first membrane is permeable to allow the passage of fluid in either a unidirectional or bidirectional fashion. The reservoir is a container-like element capable of storing a fluid removed from or communicated into the tissue. The micro-pump facilitates transport of the fluid between the reservoir and first membrane. The flextensional transducers generate ultrasonic waves which are separately communicated into the tissue to transport fluid between the first membrane and tissue. Ultrasonic waves could interact to enhance the performance of the micro-patch. The microelectronics circuit controls both flextensional transducers and the micro-pump. The sensor could be embedded within the micro-patch to monitor temperature, pressure, or flow rate so as to avoid damage or irritation to the tissue.

Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Abstract: A passive isolator mount capable of dissipating shocks and vibrations as either heat or magnetic energy is presented. The passive isolator includes a pair of L-shaped or C-shaped brackets capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains, energy dissipating layers disposed along each bracket, and a bond layer. The energy dissipating layers are composed of a rare earth element or alloy, a ferromagnetic shape alloy, a magnetic shape memory alloy, a magnetostrictive alloy, a magneto-mechanical alloy, a super-elastic alloy, or a combination thereof. The bond layer is disposed between and adheres one energy dissipating layer along a first bracket to an energy dissipating layer along a second bracket so that the resultant passive isolator is C-shaped. Energy dissipating and bond layers completely bisect the passive isolator either widthwise through the thickness of the L-shaped brackets or lengthwise through the thickness of the C-shaped brackets.

Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Abstract: A flooring system comprising a plurality of electrode pairs in contact with a metaplastic composite material. The metaplastic material is such that it locally conducts electrical current in an area where any load is applied to the metaplastic. An electric potential is applied to one or more interdigitated electrodes located at a face of the metaplastic material in line with applied loads. Larger area coverage can be obtained either by pre-installing a subsurface layer comprising of an array of interdigitated electrodes and their trace line outputs and then covering this layer with a tiling of metaplastic material sheets that is in direct contact with the array of interdigitated electrodes, or, by directly attaching one or more interdigitated electrodes and their output trace lines to an individual sections of metaplastic material and electrically interconnecting their outputs.

Abstract: A piezoelectric micro-disruptor capable of disrupting a blockage both mechanically and vibrationally is presented. The micro-disruptor includes a rotor, a stator disposed about and contacting the rotor, a cutting element, and a flexible guide wire. In one embodiment, the stator is composed of a flexible cylinder with at least two piezoelectric elements attached thereto. Piezoelectric elements are electroded, wired to power leads within the flexible guide wire, and poled to function as an actuator. Expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric elements causes the flexible cylinder to wobble, thus driving the rotor and cutting element in a rotary fashion. In another embodiment, the stator is a piezoelectric cylinder with at least two electrodes attached separately thereto so as to contact and rotate a rotor assembly. Piezoelectric elements and cylinder are electrically driven so as to vibrate the stator, rotor, and cutting element.

Abstract: A sensor with sound navigation and ranging applications is presented. The invention includes a pressure conduction composite sandwiched between electrically conductive elements so as to sense pressure associated with an acoustic wave via a change in conductance within the composite. One electrically conductive element is rigid and includes the hull of a vessel or wall of a sea-based device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a non-conductive matrix having a conductive fill at or near the percolation threshold of the material system. The pressure conduction composite is highly resistive in its uncompressed state. However, resistance decreases with increasing compression. In preferred embodiments, sensors are arranged in an array architecture including planar and conformal configurations. The present invention has immediate application in submarines, ships, and sonobuoys.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to reconfigurable, solid-state matrix arrays comprising multiple rows and columns of reconfigurable secondary mechanisms that are independently tuned. Specifically, the invention relates to reconfigurable devices comprising multiple, solid-state mechanisms characterized by at least one voltage-varied parameter disposed within a flexible, multi-laminate film, which are suitable for use as magnetic conductors, ground surfaces, antennas, varactors, ferrotunable substrates, or other active or passive electronic mechanisms.

Abstract: A current control device is described wherein a pressure conduction composite is compressed and decompressed to alter its conductivity and thereby current conduction through the device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a nonconductive matrix, a conductive filler, and an additive. The invention consists of electrodes, a nonconducting isolator, and pressure plates contacting the composite. Electrically activated actuators apply a force onto pressures plates. Each actuator is a piezoelectric, piezoceramic, electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, or piezo-controlled pneumatic element, capable of extending and/or contracting thereby altering pressure and consequently resistivity within the composite.

Abstract: A low-profile, actively-controllable flexible piezo-composite actuator with flexibly mated drive, control, and power circuit architecture is presented. The low-profile, functionally-integrated actuator package retains the flexible nature of the actuator while not increasing the overall footprint of the device. The functionally integrated package incorporates flexible structural sensors and embedded control as to enable either active or autonomous control of a unified flexible package that can be installed conformally to non-planar structures. Integral flexible sensors include strain, normal stress, shear stress, pressure, velocity, and acceleration. The invention has immediate applicability to vibration and noise abatement, strain-based compensation, shape control, and structural damping within a variety of aircraft, ships and ground vehicles.

Abstract: A high-sensitivity pressure conduction sensor is presented. The present invention includes a pair of locally resilient conductive layers and a locally resilient pressure conduction composite disposed between and contacting both conductive layers. Alternate embodiments include at least three locally resilient conductive layers and at least two locally resilient pressure conduction composites, each having a critical percolation threshold. Each composite is disposed between and contacting two conductive layers in a multi-layer fashion. Other embodiments include a locally resilient pressure conduction composite, a flexible substrate completely surrounding the composite so as to seal it therein, and a pair of electrical leads contacting the composite and terminating outside of the flexible substrate. Pressure conduction composites are composed of a plurality of conductive particles electrically isolated within a non-conductive matrix.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a current control device is presented. The method impregnates a pressure conduction composite within a current control device with a fluid additive via suffusion. The suffusion process is performed by placing the pressure conduction composite within a bath of a liquid additive. The method generally includes the steps of mixing a compressible non-conductive matrix and conductive filler, forming a pressure conduction composite composed of the non-conductive matrix having the conductive filler electrically isolated therein, suffusing the composite within a bath so as to impregnate the composite with an additive, and attaching a pair of conductive plates to the composite. Alternate methods include attaching non-conductive plates to the composite, forming pores within the pressure conduction composite, and inserting a temperature responsive material into a porous composite.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a current control device is presented. The method impregnates a pressure conduction composite within a current control device with a fluid additive via suffusion. The suffusion process is performed by placing the pressure conduction composite within a bath of a liquid additive. The method generally includes the steps of mixing a compressible non-conductive matrix and conductive filler, forming a pressure conduction composite composed of the non-conductive matrix having the conductive filler electrically isolated therein, suffusing the composite within a bath so as to impregnate the composite with an additive, and attaching a pair of conductive plates to the composite. Alternate methods include attaching non-conductive plates to the composite, forming pores within the pressure conduction composite, and inserting a temperature responsive material into a porous composite.

Abstract: A sensor with sound navigation and ranging applications is presented. The invention includes a pressure conduction composite sandwiched between electrically conductive elements so as to sense pressure associated with an acoustic wave via a change in conductance of the composite. One electrically conductive element is rigid and may include the hull of a vessel or wall of a sea-based device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a non-conductive matrix having a conductive fill at or near the percolation threshold of the material system. The pressure conduction composite is highly resistive in its uncompressed state. However, resistance decreases with increasing compression. In preferred embodiments, sensors are arranged in an array architecture including planar or conformal configurations.

Abstract: A current control device is described wherein a pressure conduction composite is compressed and decompressed to alter its conductivity and thereby current conduction through the device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a nonconductive matrix, a conductive filler, and an additive. The invention consists of electrodes, a nonconducting isolator, and pressure plates contacting the composite. Electrically activated actuators apply a force onto pressures plates. Each actuator is a piezoelectric, piezoceramic, electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, or piezo-controlled pneumatic element, capable of extending and/or contracting thereby altering pressure and consequently resistivity within the composite.

Abstract: A current control device is described wherein a pressure conduction composite is compressed and decompressed to alter its conductivity and thereby current conduction through the device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a nonconductive matrix, a conductive filler, and an additive. The invention consists of electrodes and pressure plates contacting the composite. Electrically activated actuators apply a force onto pressures plates. Actuators are composed of a piezoelectric, piezoceramic, electrostrictive, magnetostrictive, and shape memory alloy materials, capable of extending and/or contracting thereby altering pressure and consequently resistivity within the composite. Two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.

Abstract: An isolator mount for the active dissipation of shocks and vibrations is presented. The invention includes at least one energy dissipating layer and deflectable elements so as to provide soft damping for small disturbance excitations, yet remaining sufficiently stiff to mitigate large shocks. The mount transfers mechanical energy to the dissipating layers via the device structure. Dissipating layers convert shock and vibration energies to either heat or magnetic energy.