Patents by Inventor Iain E. Harvey

Iain E. Harvey 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).

  • MEMS devices and systems actuated by an energy field
    Patent number: 8421305
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes an actuator having a plurality of charge collection elements. At least one of the charge collection elements is configured to build up electrical charges by directly interacting with an energy field thereby actuating the MEMS through Coulombic interactions. An actuator for a MEMS device is configured to actuate the MEMS device through Coulombic interactions by pumping charges to the actuator when subject to an energy field. A method of actuating a MEMS device includes irradiating an actuator of the MEMS device with an energy field thereby building up electrical charges on the actuator, and actuating the MEMS device with Coulomb forces from the built up electrical charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ian R. Harvey, Taylor M. Meacham, Ronald W. Boutte, Brian Baker, Iain E. Harvey
  • MEMS DEVICES AND SYSTEMS ACTUATED BY AN ENERGY FIELD
    Publication number: 20100194237
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes an actuator having a plurality of charge collection elements. At least one of the charge collection elements is configured to build up electrical charges by directly interacting with an energy field thereby actuating the MEMS through Coulombic interactions. An actuator for a MEMS device is configured to actuate the MEMS device through Coulombic interactions by pumping charges to the actuator when subject to an energy field. A method of actuating a MEMS device includes irradiating an actuator of the MEMS device with an energy field thereby building up electrical charges on the actuator, and actuating the MEMS device with Coulomb forces from the built up electrical charges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Ian R. Harvey, Taylor M. Meacham, Ronald W. Boutte, Brian W. Baker, Iain E. Harvey