Patents by Inventor Mark George Easton
Mark George Easton 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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Patent number: 11519947Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for measuring the resistance of a shape memory alloy, SMA, wire. The apparatus comprises: an SMA wire; a sense resistor connected in series with the SMA wire; a measurement circuit configured to perform a measurement indicative of the potential difference across at least the SMA wire; and a measurement switch between the SMA wire and the sense resistor. The measurement switch is configured to connect either to the measurement circuit such that the measurement circuit can perform the measurement or to a circuit that bypasses the sense resistor.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITEDInventors: Mark George Easton, Jonathan Morgan
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Publication number: 20220106941Abstract: A method of controlling power delivered to a shape memory alloy, SMA, actuator wire arrangement, wherein the arrangement comprises a plurality of SMA actuator wires, comprising: the steps of: applying, at a PWM frequency, to each of the SMA actuator wires during respective active periods a succession of voltage pulses; and applying, during a resistance measurement period, to one of the plurality of SMA actuator wires a resistance measurement current pulse, wherein the resistance measurement period corresponds to the respective active period of one of the plurality of SMA actuator wires.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2019Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventor: Mark George Easton
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Publication number: 20210190842Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for measuring the resistance of a shape memory alloy, SMA, wire. The apparatus comprises: an SMA wire; a sense resistor connected in series with the SMA wire; a measurement circuit configured to perform a measurement indicative of the potential difference across at least the SMA wire; and a measurement switch between the SMA wire and the sense resistor. The measurement switch is configured to connect either to the measurement circuit such that the measurement circuit can perform the measurement or to a circuit that bypasses the sense resistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2018Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Mark George Easton, Jonathan Morgan
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Patent number: 9479699Abstract: An SMA actuation apparatus comprises a support structure, a movable element movably supported on the support structure and an arrangement of three or more SMA actuator wires mechanically connected between the support structure and the movable element. The SMA actuator wires have an interconnection at the movable element that electrically connects the group of SMA actuator wires together. This avoids the need to make a separate electrical connection to the movable element.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2011Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Benjamin David Brown, Robert John Leedham, Mark George Easton
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Patent number: 9388799Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for actuating a shape-memory alloy actuator. An example method comprises a measurement phase, in which a voltage is applied across a bridge comprising a sense resistor to measure the resistance of the shape-memory alloy actuator, and a drive phase, in which a bypass unit is used to bypass the sense resistor while still driving current through the shape-memory alloy actuator in order to drive the shape-memory alloy actuator.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITEDInventors: Mark George Easton, David Charles William Richards
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Publication number: 20150260169Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for actuating a shape-memory alloy actuator. An example method comprises a measurement phase, in which a voltage is applied across a bridge comprising a sense resistor to measure the resistance of the shape-memory alloy actuator, and a drive phase, in which a bypass unit is used to bypass the sense resistor while still driving current through the shape-memory alloy actuator in order to drive the shape-memory alloy actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2013Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITEDInventors: Mark George Easton, David Charles William Richards
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Publication number: 20130300880Abstract: An SMA actuation apparatus comprises a support structure, a movable element movably supported on the support structure and an arrangement of three or more SMA actuator wires mechanically connected between the support structure and the movable element. The SMA actuator wires have an interconnection at the movable element that electrically connects the group of SMA actuator wires together. This avoids the need to make a separate electrical connection to the movable element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2011Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Benjamin David Brown, Robert John Leedham, Mark George Easton
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Publication number: 20090161880Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for taking an input signal, replicating it a number of times and modifying each of the replicas before routing them to respective output transducers such that a desired sound field is created. This sound field may comprise a directed beam, focused beam or a simulated origin. In a first aspect, delays are added to sound channels to remove the effects of different travelling distances. In a second aspect, a delay is added to a video signal to account for the delays added to the sound channels. In a third aspect, different window functions are applied to each channel to give improved flexibility of use. In a fourth aspect, a smaller extent of transducers is used top output high frequencies than are used to output low frequencies. An array having a larger density of transducers near the center is also provided. In a fifth aspect, a line of elongate transducers is provided to give good directivity in a plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2009Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITEDInventors: Anthony Hooley, Paul Thomas Troughton, Angus Gavin Goudie, Mark George Easton, Irving Alexander Bienek, James Davies, Damon Thomas Ryan, Paul Raymond Windle
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Patent number: 7515719Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for taking an input signal, replicating it a number of times and modifying each of the replicas before routing them to respective output transducers such that a desired sound field is created. This sound field may comprise a directed beam, focussed beam or a simulated origin. In a first aspect, delays are added to sound channels to remove the effects of different travelling distances. In a second aspect, a delay is added to a video signal to account for the delays added to the sound channels. In a third aspect, different window functions are applied to each channel to give improved flexibility of use. In a fourth aspect, a smaller extent of transducers is used top output high frequencies than are used to output low frequencies. An array having a larger density of transducers near the centre is also provided. In a fifth aspect, a line of elongate transducers is provided to give good directivity in a plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Cambridge Mechatronics LimitedInventors: Anthony Hooley, Paul Thomas Troughton, Angus Gavin Goudie, Mark George Easton, Irving Alexander Bienek, James Davies, Damon Thomas Ryan, Paul Raymond Windle
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Publication number: 20040151325Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for taking an input signal, replicating it a number of times and modifying each of the replicas before routing them to respective output transducers such that a desired sound field is created. This sound field may comprise a directed beam, focussed beam or a simulated origin. In a first aspect, delays are added to sound channels to remove the effects of different travelling distances. In a second aspect, a delay is added to a video signal to account for the delays added to the sound channels. In a third aspect, different window functions are applied to each channel to give improved flexibility of use. In a fourth aspect, a smaller extent of transducers is used top output high frequencies than are used to output low frequencies. An array having a larger density of transducers near the centre is also provided. In a fifth aspect, a line of elongate transducers is provided to give good directivity in a plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Anthony Hooley, Paul Thomas Troughton, Angus Gavin Goudie, Mark George Easton, Irving Alexander Bienek, James Davies, Damon Thomas Ryan, Paul Raymond Windle