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：US08810234B2

公开(公告)日：2014-08-19

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： G01N27/92

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：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：US08766564B2

公开(公告)日：2014-07-01

申请号：US13251415

申请日：2011-10-03

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

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

IPC分类号： H02N10/00 ,  H02P3/00

CPC分类号： G05B19/404 ,  G05B2219/41032 ,  G05B2219/49206

摘要： A system for and method of reducing the effects of preheat period variation in shape memory alloy actuation, include sensing the removal of motion delay due to slack, backlash, and/or compliance in the actuator and drive-train of the system, and determining actuator activation, as a result thereof.

摘要翻译： 减小形状记忆合金致动中预热周期变化的影响的系统和方法包括感测由于系统的致动器和传动系中的松弛，间隙和/或顺应性而导致的运动延迟的消除，以及确定致动器 作为其结果的激活。

公开(公告)号：US08179018B2

公开(公告)日：2012-05-15

申请号：US12546857

申请日：2009-08-25

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Lei Hao ,  Ke Dong

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Lei Hao ,  Ke Dong

IPC分类号： H02N10/00

CPC分类号： H01L41/1132 ,  H01L41/125

摘要： An active material actuator adapted for use in a circuit includes an active material member, and a piezoelectric or piezoresistive element or otherwise force sensing device, wherein the element or device is communicatively coupled to the member and operable to vary the current within the circuit when the member is caused to achieve a predetermined stress, such that, in one aspect, the element presents an overload protection mechanism.

摘要翻译： 适于在电路中使用的活性材料致动器包括活性材料构件和压电或压阻元件或其他力感测装置，其中元件或装置可通信地耦合到构件并且可操作以在电路内改变电流时 导致构件达到预定的应力，使得在一个方面，元件具有过载保护机构。

公开(公告)号：US20110050148A1

公开(公告)日：2011-03-03

申请号：US12546857

申请日：2009-08-25

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Lei Hao ,  Ke Dong

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Lei Hao ,  Ke Dong

IPC分类号： G05D15/01 ,  H02N10/00

CPC分类号： H01L41/1132 ,  H01L41/125

摘要： An active material actuator adapted for use in a circuit includes an active material member, and a piezoelectric or piezoresistive element or otherwise force sensing device, wherein the element or device is communicatively coupled to the member and operable to vary the current within the circuit when the member is caused to achieve a predetermined stress, such that, in one aspect, the element presents an overload protection mechanism.

摘要翻译： 适于在电路中使用的活性材料致动器包括活性材料构件和压电或压阻元件或其他力感测装置，其中元件或装置可通信地耦合到构件并且可操作以在电路内改变电流时 导致构件达到预定的应力，使得在一个方面，元件具有过载保护机构。

公开(公告)号：US20100330894A1

公开(公告)日：2010-12-30

申请号：US12612112

申请日：2009-11-04

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Mark A. Voss ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Lei Hao ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  James Holbrook Brown ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  John N. Owens ,  Alexander Millerman ,  Kevin B. Rober ,  Suresh Gopalakrishnan ,  Sanjeev M. Naik

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Mark A. Voss ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Lei Hao ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  James Holbrook Brown ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  John N. Owens ,  Alexander Millerman ,  Kevin B. Rober ,  Suresh Gopalakrishnan ,  Sanjeev M. Naik

IPC分类号： B60H1/26

CPC分类号： B60J9/04 ,  B60H1/00735 ,  B60H1/241 ,  B60H1/249

摘要： A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

摘要翻译： 排气组件设置在车辆的内部空间内，用于打开和关闭内部空间和车辆外部之间的流体连通。 通气组件包括限定多个开口的壳体和设置在开口中的多个叶片。 致动器机构使叶片在打开位置和关闭位置之间移动，并且包括用于在打开位置和关闭位置之间致动叶片的成形记忆合金（SMA）构件。 当车辆的舱口打开以将叶片移动到打开位置并且由此打开内部空间和外部之间的流体连通以减轻在舱口闭合期间过度的空气压力积聚时，SMA构件被激活。

公开(公告)号：US08744603B2

公开(公告)日：2014-06-03

申请号：US12814841

申请日：2010-06-14

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

IPC分类号： G05B11/01 ,  G05B9/02 ,  G05D1/10

CPC分类号： G05B9/02

摘要： A method for executing mechanical overload protection to prevent commanding a control signal to a linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator when an overload condition of the linear actuator is detected, the linear actuator utilized for controlling a movable element associated with the linear actuator responsive to the control signal, includes monitoring an overload condition based on position change of the movable element associated with the linear actuator during an integration period and excess energy during the integration period, de-energizing the linear actuator when an overload condition has been detected, monitoring an overload retry counter based on the number of cycles the overload condition is detected, comparing the overload retry counter to an overload retry threshold, an reenergizing the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is less than the overload retry threshold and maintaining de-energizing of the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is at least the overload retry threshold.

摘要翻译： 一种用于执行机械过载保护的方法，以防止在检测到线性致动器的过载状况时机械地使线性致动器过载的线性致动器的控制信号，用于控制与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的线性致动器响应 对于控制信号，包括在积分期间基于与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的位置变化以及在积分期间内的过剩能量来监视过载状态，当已经检测到过载状况时，使线性致动器断电 基于检测到过载条件的循环次数的过载重试计数器，将过载重试计数器与过载重试阈值进行比较，当过载重试计数器小于过载重试阈值时，重新激活线性致动器，并保持断电 线性执行机构过载时 尝试计数器至少是过载重试阈值。

公开(公告)号：US08821224B2

公开(公告)日：2014-09-02

申请号：US12612112

申请日：2009-11-04

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Mark A. Voss ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Lei Hao ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  James Holbrook Brown ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  John N. Owens ,  Alexander Millerman ,  Kevin B. Rober ,  Suresh Gopalakrishnan ,  Sanjeev M. Naik

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Mark A. Voss ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Lei Hao ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  James Holbrook Brown ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  John N. Owens ,  Alexander Millerman ,  Kevin B. Rober ,  Suresh Gopalakrishnan ,  Sanjeev M. Naik

IPC分类号： B24D13/00 ,  B60H1/00 ,  B61D27/00 ,  B63J2/00

CPC分类号： B60J9/04 ,  B60H1/00735 ,  B60H1/241 ,  B60H1/249

摘要： A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

摘要翻译： 排气组件设置在车辆的内部空间内，用于打开和关闭内部空间和车辆外部之间的流体连通。 通气组件包括限定多个开口的壳体和设置在开口中的多个叶片。 致动器机构使叶片在打开位置和关闭位置之间移动，并且包括用于在打开位置和关闭位置之间致动叶片的成形记忆合金（SMA）构件。 当车辆的舱口打开以将叶片移动到打开位置并且由此打开内部空间和外部之间的流体连通以减轻在舱口闭合期间过度的空气压力积聚时，SMA构件被激活。

公开(公告)号：US20100332035A1

公开(公告)日：2010-12-30

申请号：US12814841

申请日：2010-06-14

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Lei Hao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Mark A. Voss

IPC分类号： G05B9/02

CPC分类号： G05B9/02

摘要： A method for executing mechanical overload protection to prevent commanding a control signal to a linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator when an overload condition of the linear actuator is detected, the linear actuator utilized for controlling a movable element associated with the linear actuator responsive to the control signal, includes monitoring an overload condition based on position change of the movable element associated with the linear actuator during an integration period and excess energy during the integration period, de-energizing the linear actuator when an overload condition has been detected, monitoring an overload retry counter based on the number of cycles the overload condition is detected, comparing the overload retry counter to an overload retry threshold, an reenergizing the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is less than the overload retry threshold and maintaining de-energizing of the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is at least the overload retry threshold.

摘要翻译： 一种用于执行机械过载保护的方法，以防止在检测到线性致动器的过载状况时对线性致动器进行机械过载的线性致动器的控制信号，用于控制与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的线性致动器响应 对于控制信号，包括在积分期间基于与线性致动器相关联的可移动元件的位置变化以及在积分期间内的过剩能量来监视过载状态，当已经检测到过载状况时，使线性致动器断电 基于检测到过载条件的循环次数的过载重试计数器，将过载重试计数器与过载重试阈值进行比较，当过载重试计数器小于过载重试阈值并重新激活线性致动器时， 线性执行机构过载时 尝试计数器至少是过载重试阈值。