Invention Grant
US07306869B2 Electrostatically actuated shutter and array for use in a direct oxidation fuel cell
失效
用于直接氧化燃料电池的静电驱动的快门和阵列
- Patent Title: Electrostatically actuated shutter and array for use in a direct oxidation fuel cell
- Patent Title (中): 用于直接氧化燃料电池的静电驱动的快门和阵列
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Application No.: US10726162Application Date: 2003-12-02
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Publication No.: US07306869B2Publication Date: 2007-12-11
- Inventor: David H. Leach , Charles M. Carlstrom, Jr.
- Applicant: David H. Leach , Charles M. Carlstrom, Jr.
- Applicant Address: US NY Albany
- Assignee: MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc.
- Current Assignee: MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US NY Albany
- Agency: Cesari and McKenna LLP
- Main IPC: H01M8/04
- IPC: H01M8/04

Abstract:
A wide-area electrostatically-actuated shutter is provided that includes a thin, flexible, diaphragm that is placed between two rigid electrode structures. In one embodiment of the invention, the diaphragm has a set of openings in it. These openings overlap with corresponding openings in one of the rigid electrodes such that when the diaphragm is contiguous to that electrode, the openings provide apertures through which vaporous fuel can flow. The opposite electrode does not have overlapping openings, thus it forms a seal that prevents gas or vapor from passing through it when the diaphragm is in contact with the opposite electrode. The shutter is actuated electrostatically by an associated driver that applies a voltage to the diaphragm such that when the high voltage is applied to the diaphragm, the diaphragm is attracted to the fixed electrode that is tied to ground. Alternatively, when is desired to place the shutter in the opposite position, the diaphragm is placed at ground, which, in turn, pulls it towards the fixed electrode that is at a high voltage, to adjust the shutter. The shutter can be rapidly opened and closed at a high frequency in a PWM mode or a PFM mode.
Public/Granted literature
- US20050118469A1 Electrostatically actuated shutter and array for use in a direct oxidation fuel cell Public/Granted day:2005-06-02
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