Patents by Inventor Gareth Knowles
Gareth Knowles 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).
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Publication number: 20050161871Abstract: An isolator mount for the active dissipation of shocks and vibrations is presented. The invention includes at least one energy dissipating element disposed between 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 element via the device structure. Dissipating element mitigates the energy in shocks and vibrations as either heat or magnetic energy. A snap-together modular embodiment enables the coupling of two or more isolators for use within a wide variety of shock and vibration applications. Quasi-static tuning of one or more mounts comprising a snap-together module facilitates an active response to changing conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2004Publication date: July 28, 2005Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Bruce Bower
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Publication number: 20050156367Abstract: An isolator mount for the active dissipation of shocks and vibrations is presented. The invention includes at least one energy dissipating element disposed between 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 element via the device structure. Dissipating element mitigates the energy in shocks and vibrations as either heat or magnetic energy. A snap-together modular embodiment enables the coupling of two or more isolators for use within a wide variety of shock and vibration applications. Quasi-static tuning of one or more mounts comprising a snap-together module facilitates an active response to changing conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2005Publication date: July 21, 2005Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Bruce Bower
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Publication number: 20050127574Abstract: A method of fabricating an isolator mount is presented. The method includes plasticating a polymeric material, forcing the polymeric material through a shaping die, forming a continuous extrusion so that shear flow aligns a plurality of energy damping particulates within the polymeric material along a preferred direction, and cutting the continuous extrusion after the forming step. In yet another embodiment, the fabrication process includes extruding a polymeric material having a plurality of energy damping inclusions therein, inducing a magnetic flux density field so as to align the energy damping inclusions in a preferred direction before cooling of the polymeric material, and inducing a magnetic bias across the polymeric material so as to form an RL equivalent circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2005Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Bruce Bower
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Publication number: 20050081640Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 6867681Abstract: 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 materials, capable of extending and/or contracting thereby altering pressure and consequently resistivity within the composite. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2004Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Publication number: 20050030150Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Publication number: 20050002087Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2004Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 6834835Abstract: The present invention is a wing having telescoping segments deployed via an actuator composed of a heat activated material. The actuator is a coiled tube of shape memory alloy (SMA) with large force-displacement characteristics activated thermally by either a fluid or an electrical charge. Actuator motion extends an inner wing segment from an outer wing segment when the coiled tube is compressed. Compression is achieved by heating the coiled tube so as to cause a phase transformation from Martensite to Austenite. The inner wing segment may be retracted by a mechanical device or second SMA coil when the coiled tube is cooled and returned to its Martensite phase.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Ross W. Bird
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Publication number: 20040207506Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Publication number: 20040201445Abstract: 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 materials, capable of extending and/or contracting thereby altering pressure and consequently resistivity within the composite. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Publication number: 20040201526Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 6798332Abstract: 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. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Patent number: 6798331Abstract: 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. 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. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Patent number: 6794983Abstract: 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. 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. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Publication number: 20040150506Abstract: 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. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Publication number: 20040104803Abstract: 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. 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. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles
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Publication number: 20040012303Abstract: 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. 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. In an alternate embodiment, two or more current control devices are electrically coupled parallel to increase power handling.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Bruce Bower, Gareth Knowles