Patents by Inventor Srinivasan Suryanarayan

Srinivasan Suryanarayan 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).

  • Stiffness control using smart actuators
    Patent number: 8313108
    Abstract: A stiffness control system and apparatus includes one or more stiffness elements which are each activated by a smart actuator including a smart material which may be one of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, an electrorheological (ER) fluid, and a piezo-stack. The stiffness control system includes a first and second interface adaptable to transmit input loads and a plurality of stiffness elements. A first stiffness element is operatively connected to the first and second interfaces and is continuously responsive to a change in system operating characteristics including input loads. A second stiffness element is selectively activated by the smart actuator so as to selectively respond to a change in system conditions. The continuous response of the first stiffness element can be selectively combined with the activated response of the second stiffness element to dynamically control system stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shivaram Ac, Amol G. Thakare, Vidyashankar R. Buravalla, Srinivasan Suryanarayan
  • STIFFNESS CONTROL USING SMART ACTUATORS
    Publication number: 20120018962
    Abstract: A stiffness control system and apparatus includes one or more stiffness elements which are each activated by a smart actuator including a smart material which may be one of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, an electrorheological (ER) fluid, and a piezo-stack. The stiffness control system includes a first and second interface adaptable to transmit input loads and a plurality of stiffness elements. A first stiffness element is operatively connected to the first and second interfaces and is continuously responsive to a change in system operating characteristics including input loads. A second stiffness element is selectively activated by the smart actuator so as to selectively respond to a change in system conditions. The continuous response of the first stiffness element can be selectively combined with the activated response of the second stiffness element to dynamically control system stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Shivaram AC, Amol G. Thakare, Vidyashankar R. Buravalla, Srinivasan Suryanarayan