Patents by Inventor S. James Biggs

S. James Biggs 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).

  • Thin, flexible actuator array to produce complex shapes and force distributions
    Patent number: 7665300
    Abstract: An actuator includes a bistable mechanism having a tension beam and a compression beam defined by a relief slit in a flexible substrate; and a first shape memory element that upon heating actuates the actuator from a first position to a second position. A heat source can be thermally coupled to actuate the first shape memory element, or the first shape memory element can be heated by passing current through the element. The actuators can be formed in an array. Such arrays can be useful for tactile displays, massagers, and the like. Also included are methods of operation and manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: S. James Biggs, R. Dodge Daverman