公开(公告)号：US20120223727A1

公开(公告)日：2012-09-06

申请号：US13452597

申请日：2012-04-20

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Lei Hao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Lei Hao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

IPC分类号： G01R27/08

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： A method of controlling and/or predicting the remaining useful life of an active material actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, includes obtaining historical actuation data of an inherent system variable, such as electrical resistance, over a secondary variable, such as time, determining a normal operating envelope having upper and lower bounds based on the data, determining a current profile for a given actuation cycle, and comparing the shape of the current profile to the envelope to determine an out-of-bounds event.

摘要翻译： 控制和/或预测诸如形状记忆合金线的活性材料致动器的剩余使用寿命的方法包括获得诸如电阻的固有系统变量的历史致动数据，例如次级变量，例如时间 ，基于所述数据确定具有上限和下限的正常操作包络，确定给定致动周期的当前轮廓，以及将所述当前轮廓的形状与所述包络进行比较以确定超出范围的事件。

公开(公告)号：US20120114778A1

公开(公告)日：2012-05-10

申请号：US13348653

申请日：2012-01-12

申请人： Andrew C. Keefe ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

发明人： Andrew C. Keefe ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC分类号： B29C59/02

CPC分类号： B29C59/02 ,  B29C59/18 ,  B44C1/00 ,  Y10T428/24446

摘要： Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a variably foldable structure in communication with the surface, and active material actuation to enable and/or cause folding.

摘要翻译： 主动纹理系统适于利用与表面连通的可变折叠结构选择性地和可逆地修改表面纹理，以及活动材料致动以使得和/或引起折叠。

公开(公告)号：US08109042B2

公开(公告)日：2012-02-07

申请号：US11076434

申请日：2005-03-09

申请人： Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Cameron Massey ,  William Barvosa-Carter ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

发明人： Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Cameron Massey ,  William Barvosa-Carter ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC分类号： E06B3/00

CPC分类号： E06B7/2314 ,  B60J10/15 ,  B60J10/16 ,  B60J10/244 ,  B60J10/40 ,  B60J10/50 ,  C08L2201/12 ,  E05B15/16 ,  E05B15/1607 ,  E05B47/0009 ,  E05B47/0011 ,  E05B81/00 ,  E05B81/20 ,  E05C19/001 ,  E05C19/166 ,  E05F1/00 ,  E05Y2201/43 ,  E05Y2400/614 ,  E05Y2800/67 ,  E05Y2900/531 ,  E05Y2900/55 ,  F16J15/022 ,  F16J15/025 ,  F16J15/027 ,  F16J15/028 ,  F16J15/061 ,  F16J15/064 ,  F16J15/0806 ,  Y10S277/921 ,  Y10S292/65 ,  Y10T16/56 ,  Y10T292/11

摘要： Methods for varying seal force in active seal assemblies for doors employ active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active materials actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, or a combination of modulus and shape in response to an activation signal. In this manner, in seal applications such as a vehicle door application, door opening and closing efforts can be minimized yet seal effectiveness can be maximized.

摘要翻译： 用于在门的主动密封组件中改变密封力的方法采用可被控制和远程改变以改变密封效果的活性材料，其中活性材料主动地改变模量特性，例如硬度，或响应于 激活信号。 以这种方式，在诸如车门应用的密封应用中，可以最小化门打开和关闭的努力，从而可以最大化密封效果。

公开(公告)号：US20080100071A1

公开(公告)日：2008-05-01

申请号：US11744966

申请日：2007-05-07

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Bahram Khalighi ,  Douglas M. Smick

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Bahram Khalighi ,  Douglas M. Smick

IPC分类号： E05F1/00

CPC分类号： B62D35/008 ,  B62D25/182 ,  B62D35/001 ,  Y10T292/702

摘要： A vehicle flow trip, includes a moveable body portion in physical communication with a vehicle body, and an actuator comprising an active material in operative communication with the vehicle body and the moveable body portion; wherein the active material undergoes a change in a property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in a property is effective to displace the moveable body portion from either an original position or a deployed position in an airflow stream to the other of the original or the deployed position through motion of the actuator.

摘要翻译： 车辆行驶中包括与车身物理连通的可动主体部分，以及包括与车体和可移动主体部分可操作地连通的活动材料的致动器; 其中所述活性材料在接收到激活信号时经历特性变化，其中所述特性的变化有效地使所述可移动主体部分从气流流中的原始位置或展开位置移动到所述原件的另一个 或通过致动器的运动展开位置。

公开(公告)号：US09096012B2

公开(公告)日：2015-08-04

申请号：US13491598

申请日：2012-06-08

申请人： Andrew C. Keefe ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

发明人： Andrew C. Keefe ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC分类号： C25B9/00 ,  B29C59/02 ,  B29C59/18 ,  B44C1/00

CPC分类号： B29C59/02 ,  B29C59/18 ,  B44C1/005 ,  Y10T428/24446

摘要： Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a plurality of discrete mechanisms in communication with the reconfigurable structure.

摘要翻译： 主动纹理系统适于利用与可重构结构通信的多个离散机构来选择性地和可逆地修改表面的纹理。

公开(公告)号：US09017795B2

公开(公告)日：2015-04-28

申请号：US13232488

申请日：2011-09-14

申请人： Andrew C. Keefe ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

发明人： Andrew C. Keefe ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC分类号： B32B3/28 ,  B29C59/02 ,  B29C59/18 ,  B44C1/00

CPC分类号： B29C59/02 ,  B29C59/18 ,  B44C1/005 ,  Y10T156/1039 ,  Y10T428/24446 ,  Y10T428/24942

摘要： Actively controlled texturing systems for and methods of selectively and reversibly forming wrinkles, or modifying the amplitude, wavelength, or pattern of existing wrinkles upon a surface using active material actuation.

摘要翻译： 主动控制的纹理系统以及选择性地和可逆地形成皱纹的方法，或者使用活性材料致动改变表面上现有皱纹的幅度，波长或图案。

公开(公告)号：US08262133B2

公开(公告)日：2012-09-11

申请号：US12427868

申请日：2009-04-22

申请人： Patrick B. Usoro ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Steven G. Corrion ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Lawrence C. Maugh ,  William B. Carter ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight

发明人： Patrick B. Usoro ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Steven G. Corrion ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Lawrence C. Maugh ,  William B. Carter ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight

IPC分类号： B60R22/46

CPC分类号： B60R22/4676 ,  B60R2022/4685

摘要： A seat belt retractor utilizing active material actuation for selectively modifying the tension in a seat belt.

摘要翻译： 一种安全带卷收器，利用活性材料致动来选择性地改变安全带中的张力。

公开(公告)号：US08188757B2

公开(公告)日：2012-05-29

申请号：US12437722

申请日：2009-05-08

申请人： Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nicholas William Pinto

发明人： Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nicholas William Pinto

IPC分类号： G01R27/08

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： A method of controlling a shape memory alloy actuator utilizing the change in resistance exhibited by the actuator over an actuation cycle, or a derivative thereof, to identify at least one event, such as, for example, a peak, valley, change in slope without reaching a valley, or a jump in resistance within the signal plot that corresponds to the start of actuation, end of actuation, an overload case, and the introduction of a resistive element respectively, and generating a response based upon the event.

摘要翻译： 一种利用执行机构在致动周期或其衍生物上呈现的电阻变化来控制形状记忆合金致动器的方法，以识别至少一个事件，例如峰谷，坡度变化，而没有 到达一个谷或信号图中的对应于启动开始，致动结束，过载情况和分别引入电阻元件的电阻中的电阻跳跃，并且基于事件产生响应。

公开(公告)号：US20120109573A1

公开(公告)日：2012-05-03

申请号：US12938683

申请日：2010-11-03

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Lei Hao ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Christopher P. Henry

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Lei Hao ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Christopher P. Henry

IPC分类号： G06F15/00 ,  F24J3/00 ,  G01N25/00

CPC分类号： G01N25/18

摘要： A method of sensing an ambient heat transfer condition surrounding a shape memory alloy element includes heating the shape memory alloy element, sensing the resistance of the shape memory alloy element, and measuring the period of time taken to heat the shape memory alloy element to a pre-determined level of a resistance characteristic. The ambient heat transfer condition surrounding the shape memory alloy element is calculated by referencing a relationship between the period of time taken to heat the shape memory alloy to the pre-determined level of the resistance characteristic and the ambient heat transfer condition.

摘要翻译： 检测形状记忆合金元件周围的环境传热条件的方法包括加热形状记忆合金元件，感测形状记忆合金元件的电阻，以及测量将形状记忆合金元件加热到预先形成的时间 确定电阻特性的水平。 通过参照将形状记忆合金加热所需的时间与预定的电阻特性水平和环境传热条件之间的关系来计算围绕形状记忆合金元件的环境传热条件。

公开(公告)号：US07854467B2

公开(公告)日：2010-12-21

申请号：US12174035

申请日：2008-07-16

申请人： Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Cameron Massey ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  William Barvosa-Carter ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

发明人： Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Cameron Massey ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  William Barvosa-Carter ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

IPC分类号： B60J9/00

CPC分类号： B64C23/00 ,  B64C2027/7288 ,  F15D1/10 ,  Y02T50/34

摘要： An airflow control device comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow to better suit changes in driving conditions such as weather, ground clearance and speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. As such, the device reduces vehicle damage due to inadequate ground clearance, while increasing vehicle stability and fuel economy. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness of the device. A method for controlling vehicle airflow selectively introduces an activation signal to initiate a change of at least one feature of the device that can be reversed upon discontinuation of the activation signal.