Smart material control system and related method
US6188160A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N30/2042
Abstract
A smart material control system and related method is disclosed for adaptively controlling the movement of an adaptive structure. The adaptive structure includes a smart material layer bonded to a conductive substrate in a bimorph configuration. A charge projector, such as an electron gun, is utilized to project charges onto the smart material layer of the adaptive structure. A voltage/charge source adaptively controls the potential of the conductive substrate. Depending on the placement of the projected charges and the adaptively controlled potential of the conductive substrate the displacement/curvature is precisely controlled. In an alternate embodiment, two smart material layers are bonded together to form an adaptive structure controlled independently in the x- and y- directions. Also, an array of charge projectors and/or conductive substrate sections may be used to provide varying and broad control of adaptive structures.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.