Patents by Inventor KEVIN FINN

KEVIN FINN 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).

  • Electrically driven magnetic shape memory apparatus and method
    Patent number: 10535457
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to compress locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to a perpendicular concentrated portion of a magnetic field. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may also include at least one permanent magnet in proximity to the MSM element. The permanent magnet may generate a significant portion of the magnetic field. By successively applying, reversing, and reducing or eliminating electrical currents applied to the conductive coils, a position of the perpendicular concentrated portion of the magnetic field may be moved relative to the MSM element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Peter Mullner, Andrew Armstrong, Kevin Finn, Nader Rafla
  • ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN MAGNETIC SHAPE MEMORY APPARUTS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20160211065
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to compress locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to a perpendicular concentrated portion of a magnetic field. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may also include at least one permanent magnet in proximity to the MSM element. The permanent magnet may generate a significant portion of the magnetic field. By successively applying, reversing, and reducing or eliminating electrical currents applied to the conductive coils, a position of the perpendicular concentrated portion of the magnetic field may be moved relative to the MSM element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: PETER MULLNER, ANDREW ARMSTRONG, KEVIN FINN, NADER RAFLA