Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080211341 | WALL CRAWLING DEVICES - Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off. | 09-04-2008 |
20080218132 | CIRCUITS FOR ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER GENERATORS - Described herein is a generator with an electroactive polymer transducer. The transducer has a capacitance that varies with deflection of a polymer included in the transducer. The generator also includes a generator circuit, coupled to the electroactive polymer transducer, that includes a capacitor. The generator circuit is configured such that the capacitor collects electrical energy from the electroactive polymer transducer in response to a change in capacitance of the polymer. | 09-11-2008 |
20080224564 | TEAR RESISTANT ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TRANSDUCERS - Described herein are several solutions that increase transducer lifetime by reducing or preventing tear propagation in a compliant electroactive polymer. One solution couples a compliant tear resistant treatment to a transducer proximate to an edge portion of the electroactive polymer. Another solution uses a tear resistant layer that couples to and covers a large surface area of the transducer. Another suitable tear resistant solution provides added material outside an active area; the added material reduces stress or strain variations in polymer material outside the active area when the electroactive polymer transducer is deflected or pre-strained | 09-18-2008 |
20080252176 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TORSIONAL DEVICE - The present invention relates to mechanical-electrical power conversion systems. The systems comprise one or more electroactive polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be converted into rotation of a power shaft included in a motor. Repeated deflection of the polymer may then produce continuous rotation of the power shaft. | 10-16-2008 |
20080289952 | SURFACE DEFORMATION ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TRANSDUCERS - The present invention provides electroactive polymer transducers that produce out-of-plane deflections. The transducers form a set of surface features based on deflection of an electroactive polymer. The set of surface features may include elevated polymer surface features and/or depressed electrode surface features. Actuation of an active area may produce the polymer deflection that creates one or more surface features. A passive layer may operably connect to a polymer. The passive layer may comprise a thicker and softer material to amplify polymer thickness changes and increase surface feature visibility. | 11-27-2008 |
20080308974 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER PRE-STRAIN - The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer. | 12-18-2008 |
20090200501 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW - The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit. | 08-13-2009 |
20090241894 | COMPLIANT WALLED COMBUSTION DEVICES - Combustion devices described herein comprise a compliant combustion chamber wall or segment. The compliant segment deforms during combustion in the combustion chamber. Some devices may include a compliant wall configured to stretch responsive to pressure generated by combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber. A coupling portion translates deformation of the compliant segment or wall into mechanical output. One or more ports are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber. | 10-01-2009 |
20100007240 | MECHANICAL META-MATERIALS - The present invention provides meta-materials with an actively controllable mechanical property. The meta-material includes a deformable structure and a set of activation elements. The activation elements are controllable between multiple states. The meta-material includes a first value for a mechanical property when one or more of the activation elements is in the first activation state and includes a second value for the mechanical property when the activation elements have been activated to the second activation state. In one aspect, the meta-material resembles a composite material where the connectivity between the component materials or shape and arrangement of the component materials is dynamically controllable so as to affect a mechanical property of the meta-material. | 01-14-2010 |
20100024180 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER PRE-STRAIN - The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer. | 02-04-2010 |
20100026143 | MONOLITHIC ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERS - The present invention relates to polymers, transducers and devices that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. Similarly, when the electroactive polymer deflects, an electric field is produced in the polymer. This electric field may be used to produce electrical energy. An active area is a portion of a polymer having sufficient electrostatic force to enable deflection of the portion and/or sufficient deflection to enable a change in electrostatic force. The present invention relates to transducers and devices including multiple active areas. The invention also relates to methods for actuating one or more active areas. | 02-04-2010 |
20100027187 | Electroadhesion - Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off. | 02-04-2010 |
20100059298 | WALL CRAWLING ROBOTS - Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off. | 03-11-2010 |
20100213928 | Method and Apparatus for Detecting Rotational Movement of a Piston Rod - A piston rod position sensing system includes a cylinder and a piston rod arranged in the cylinder for movement with respect thereto. A magnetically hard layer is formed on the piston rod to provide a recording medium. A magnetic pattern is recorded in the magnetically hard layer. The magnetic pattern includes tracks recorded in the magnetically hard layer lengthwise of the piston rod. Each track comprises magnetically written regions used to identify a current position of the piston rod. The sensing system also includes a plurality of magnetic field sensors in greater number than the plurality of tracks. Each magnetic field sensor senses the magnetically written regions of one or more of the tracks while the piston rod is moving with respect to the cylinder and generates signals used for detecting rotation of the piston rod in response to the sensed magnetically written regions. | 08-26-2010 |
20100271746 | ELECTROADHESIVE DEVICES - Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off. | 10-28-2010 |
20110110010 | WALL CRAWLING ROBOTS - Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off. | 05-12-2011 |
20110154641 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER MANUFACTURING - Described herein are transducers and their fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers. | 06-30-2011 |
20110155307 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER MANUFACTURING - Described herein are transducers and their fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers. | 06-30-2011 |
20110193362 | ELECTROADHESIVE GRIPPING - An electroadhesive gripping device or system includes a plurality of electroadhesive gripping surfaces, each having electrode(s) and each configured to be placed against respective surface regions of a foreign object, such that one or more electroadhesive forces can be provided between the electroadhesive gripping surfaces and the foreign object. Such electroadhesive forces operating to hold the foreign object against the electroadhesive gripping surfaces while the foreign object is held or moved by the electroadhesive gripping system. The electroadhesive gripping surfaces can be arranged onto a plurality of continuous fingers, and various gripping surfaces on each finger can be coupled together and manipulated with respect to each other by an actuating component, such as a cable actuator. A variable voltage can be delivered to the electrodes to control the amount of electroadhesive force generated, such that only a portion of a foreign object is held or moved. | 08-11-2011 |
20110209337 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER PRE-STRAIN - The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer. | 09-01-2011 |
20110315477 | ELECTROADHESION DEVICE FOR IMPROVING EXTENSION LADDER STABILITY - A method of stabilizing a ladder is provided by attaching one or more electroadhesive devices to an attachment point on the ladder and contacting the device to a surface such as a wall or the floor. The electrostatic force achieved by applying a voltage difference in the device provides decreased ladder slip angles or increased shear forces required to create ladder slippage thereby improving ladder stability. | 12-29-2011 |
20120120544 | ELECTROADHESIVE DEVICES - Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off. | 05-17-2012 |
20120139365 | LEVITATED MICRO-MANIPULATOR SYSTEM - A system has a circuit substrate having conductive traces in a first layer of the substrate, the traces arranged in independent zones, a diamagnetic layer residing on a surface of the circuit substrate, at least two manipulators residing adjacent the magnetic layer, the manipulators being moveable within the zones, the manipulators being magnetic and controllable through magnetic fields, and a controller electrically coupled to the traces arranged to produce signals to generate magnetic fields. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139469 | LEVITATED MICRO-MANIPULATOR SYSTEM - A method of propelling a magnetic manipulator above a circuit substrate includes arranging a magnetic manipulator on a diamagnetic layer on a surface of the circuit substrate, generating drive signals using a controller, and applying the drive signals to at least two conductive traces arranged in the circuit substrate below the diamagnetic layer. A circuit substrate to control movement of a magnetic manipulator has a diamagnetic layer on a surface of the substrate, and conductive traces arranged under the diamagnetic layer, the conductive traces arranged in a parallel line pattern in at least two separate layers. | 06-07-2012 |
20120169184 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER MANUFACTURING - Described herein are transducers and their fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers. | 07-05-2012 |
20120181896 | MECHANICAL META-MATERIALS - The present invention provides meta-materials with an actively controllable mechanical property. The meta-material includes a deformable structure and a set of activation elements. The activation elements are controllable between multiple states. The meta-material includes a first value for a mechanical property when one or more of the activation elements is in the first activation state and includes a second value for the mechanical property when the activation elements have been activated to the second activation state. In one aspect, the meta-material resembles a composite material where the connectivity between the component materials or shape and arrangement of the component materials is dynamically controllable so as to affect a mechanical property of the meta-material. | 07-19-2012 |
20130010398 | Materials for Electroadhesion and Electrolaminates - An electroadhesive device includes an outer surface adapted to interface with a surface of a foreign substrate, a plurality of electrodes ( | 01-10-2013 |
20130027159 | MANUFACTURING USING LEVITATED MANIPULATOR ROBOTS - A method of building structures using diamagnetically levitated manipulators includes depositing, with a first end effector attached to a first manipulator, a first adhesive at a first location on a first surface, picking up, with a second end effector, an article, moving the article to the surface, and placing the article on the adhesive on the surface. | 01-31-2013 |
20130058001 | ELECTROADHESIVE GRIPPING - An electroadhesive gripping device or system includes a plurality of electroadhesive gripping surfaces, each having electrode(s) and each configured to be placed against respective surface regions of a foreign object, such that one or more electroadhesive forces can be provided between the electroadhesive gripping surfaces and the foreign object. Such electroadhesive forces operating to hold the foreign object against the electroadhesive gripping surfaces while the foreign object is held or moved by the electroadhesive gripping system. The electroadhesive gripping surfaces can be arranged onto a plurality of continuous fingers, and various gripping surfaces on each finger can be coupled together and manipulated with respect to each other by an actuating component, such as a cable actuator. A variable voltage can be delivered to the electrodes to control the amount of electroadhesive force generated, such that only a portion of a foreign object is held or moved. | 03-07-2013 |
20130186699 | HIGH VOLTAGE CONVERTERS FOR ELECTROSTATIC APPLICATIONS - A wall-crawling robot or other electroadhesive device can include a battery or other low voltage power source driving a motor that provides a primary device function, a voltage convertor adapted to convert the low voltage to a high voltage using the motor output, and electrodes configured to apply the high voltage to produce an electrostatic force between the electroadhesive device and a foreign substrate. The electrostatic force maintains a current position of the electroadhesive device relative to the foreign substrate, and the voltage convertor is separate from the primary function of the electroadhesive device. The primary function can be a mechanism for locomotion, and the voltage convertor can be a Van de Graff generator, a piezoelectric generator, or an inductive switch generator, any of which are driven in a secondary manner as a result of the motor output. | 07-25-2013 |
20130242455 | Electroadhesive Handling And Manipulation - An electroadhesive gripping system includes a shear gripper. The shear gripper can include an electroadhesive surface associated with one or more electrodes and a load-bearing structure coupled to the electroadhesive surface. A power supply can be configured to apply voltage to the one or more electrodes associated with the electroadhesive surface. A controller can be configured to cause a voltage to be applied, via the power supply, to the one or more electrodes associated with the electroadhesive surface to thereby cause the first shear gripper to adhere to an item situated proximate the electroadhesive surface. The controller can be configured to cause a shear force to be applied to the adhered item, via the load-bearing structure, that is sufficient to move the adhered item. | 09-19-2013 |
20130276826 | Electroadhesive Surface Cleaner - An electroadhesive cleaning device or system includes electrode(s) that produce electroadhesive forces from an input voltage to adhere debris against an electroadhesive surface, from which the debris is removed when the forces are controllably modified. Controlling the input voltage may designate the size of debris to be cleaned. A power source provides the input voltage, and the electroadhesive surface can be a continuous track across one or more rollers to move the device across a dirty foreign surface. Electrodes can be arranged in an interdigitated pattern having differing pitches that can be actuated selectively to clean debris of different sizes. Sensors can detect the amount of debris adhered to the electroadhesive surface, and reversed polarity pulses can help repel items away from the electroadhesive surface in a controlled manner. | 10-24-2013 |
20130292303 | Handling And Sorting Materials Using Electroadhesion - A process for sorting materials using material-selective electroadhesive grippers is disclosed. At least one of an electroadhesive surface or a plurality of articles is manipulated such that multiple ones of the plurality of articles are at least intermittently proximate the electroadhesive surface. Voltage is applied to one or more electrodes in the electroadhesive surface to thereby cause the electroadhesive surface to selectively adhere to a subset of the plurality of articles based on the subset of the plurality of articles having different material properties than others of the plurality of articles. While the voltage is applied, the electroadhesive surface is moved with respect to the others of the plurality of articles to thereby separate the subset of the plurality of articles from the others of the plurality of articles. | 11-07-2013 |
20130294875 | Electroadhesive Conveying Surfaces - An electroadhesive gripping platform includes one or more electrodes. A power supply is configured to apply voltage to the one or more electrodes in the electroadhesive platform via one or more terminals. A controller is configured to operate the electroadhesive gripping platform to selectively adhere to items loaded thereon and thereby enhance traction control over such items. The controller can control the power supply to apply a voltage to the one or more electrodes in the electroadhesive platform to thereby cause the electroadhesive platform to adhere to an item disposed on the electroadhesive platform such that the item resists moving with respect to the electroadhesive platform. The controller can also control the voltage supply to reduce the voltage applied to the one or more terminals such that the item moves with respect to the electroadhesive platform. | 11-07-2013 |
20130328440 | MECHANICAL META-MATERIALS - The present invention provides meta-materials with an actively controllable mechanical property. The meta-material includes a deformable structure and a set of activation elements. The activation elements are controllable between multiple states. The meta-material includes a first value for a mechanical property when one or more of the activation elements is in the first activation state and includes a second value for the mechanical property when the activation elements have been activated to the second activation state. In one aspect, the meta-material resembles a composite material where the connectivity between the component materials or shape and arrangement of the component materials is dynamically controllable so as to affect a mechanical property of the meta-material. | 12-12-2013 |
20140036404 | Vacuum Augmented Electroadhesive Device - An electroadhesive gripping system includes a vacuum-augmented gripper. The gripper can include an electroadhesive surface associated with one or more electrodes and a load-bearing backing structure coupled to the electroadhesive surface. The backing couples to the backside of the electroadhesive surface so as to at least partially define a shape of the electroadhesive surface. The backing is configured to flex between a curled shape and an uncurled shape. A spreading arm is configured to apply force to the backing so as to flex the backing from the curled shape to the uncurled shape. When positioned next to a substrate, the uncurling motion of the backing can cause the electroadhesive surface to become vacuum sealed to the substrate. A power supply can be configured to apply voltage to the electroadhesive surface. | 02-06-2014 |
20140048098 | Active Electroadhesive Cleaning - An active electroadhesive cleaning device or system includes electrode(s) that produce electroadhesive forces from an input voltage to adhere dust or other foreign objects against an interactive surface, from which the foreign objects are removed when the forces are controllably altered. User inputs control the input voltage and/or designate the size of foreign objects to be cleaned. An active power source provides the input voltage, and the interactive surface can be a continuous track across one or more rollers to move the device across a dirty foreign surface. Electrodes can be arranged in an interdigitated pattern having differing pitches that can be actuated selectively to clean foreign objects of different sizes. Sensors can detect the amount of foreign particles adhered to the interactive surface, and reversed polarity pulses can help repel items away from the interactive surface in a timely and controlled manner. | 02-20-2014 |
20140064905 | Electroadhesive System for Capturing Objects - A “sticky boom” system facilitates physical control of foreign objects, such as those in a zero-gravity environment. The electroadhesive system includes an electrostatic adhesion pad that electrostatically and detachably adheres to a separate foreign object, as well as a boom coupled to the pad. The pad includes electrode(s) adapted to produce an electrostatic force between the pad and the object that maintains the position of the pad relative to the object. The boom provides control for positioning the pad relative to the object and also for movement of the pad and object combination when they are electrostatically adhered together. A sensing component detects when the pad is adhered to the foreign object, and a control mechanism coupled to the boom allows for control of the pad and object at a remote distance. Multiple foreign objects can be adhered simultaneously. Control can include location and/or rotational movement or deceleration of objects. | 03-06-2014 |
20140104744 | Conformable Electroadhesive Gripping System - An electroadhesive surface can include electrodes that are configured to induce an electrostatic attraction with nearby objects upon application of voltage to the electrodes. Systems described herein may also employ a load-bearing frame that is coupled to an electroadhesive gripping surface via an array of height-adjustable pins. Adjusting the pins changes the shape of the gripping surface, and may be used to conform to objects pressed against the gripping surface. Objects pressed against the gripping surface may cause one or more of the pins to retract by sliding within respective channels so as to cause the gripping surface to conform to the object. Some examples further include pin-locking mechanisms configured to secure the position of the pins within their respective channels and thereby fix the shape of the gripping surface after conforming to the object. | 04-17-2014 |
20140133062 | ADDITIONAL FORCE AUGMENTED ELECTROADHESION - An electrostatic device or system includes electrode(s) adapted to produce an electrostatic attraction force and a base surface adapted to facilitate the application of the electrostatic attraction force and also a physical attraction force separate therefrom. The electrostatic and physical attraction forces can maintain a position of the electrostatic device relative to a foreign object via electroadhesion and/or via an additional manner that is separate from the electroadhesion. The physical attraction force can be a vacuum, van der Waals, and/or adhesive force, can be applied at less than all locations across the base surface, and may involve a one-time permanent attachment. The base surface can include a deformable surface portion that moves closer to the foreign object when the electrostatic or physical attraction force is applied. The physical attraction force can be sufficient to adhere the device to the object when the electrostatic attraction force is removed. | 05-15-2014 |
20140183979 | LEVITATED-MICRO MANIPULATOR SYSTEM - A system has a first operation substrate, the operation substrate having at least one sliding surface and at least one conductive trace in a layer in the substrate, at least one flex circuit magnetically coupled to the operation substrate, the flex circuit having at least one sliding surface and at least one conductive trace in the substrate, and at least one manipulator moveable across the sliding surfaces of the operation substrate and the flex circuit by magnetic fields generated by application of current to the conductive traces. | 07-03-2014 |
20140217835 | LEVITATED-MICRO MANIPULATOR SYSTEM - A system including a first circuit substrate having conductive traces in layers of the first substrate, the first substrate having a first diamagnetic layer, a second circuit substrate having conductive traces in layers of the second substrate, the second substrate having a second diamagnetic layer, at least one manipulator residing adjacent one of the first and second diamagnetic layers, the manipulator being moveable across the first and second diamagnetic layers through magnetic fields generated by selected application of current to the conductive traces, and a controller coupled to the traces arranged to produce signals which result in the current being applied to the conductive traces. | 08-07-2014 |
20140251701 | HIGH VOLTAGE CONVERTERS FOR ELECTROSTATIC APPLICATIONS - A wall-crawling robot or other electroadhesive device can include a battery or other low voltage power source driving a motor that provides a primary device function, a voltage convertor adapted to convert the low voltage to a high voltage using the motor output, and electrodes configured to apply the high voltage to produce an electrostatic force between the electroadhesive device and a foreign substrate. The electrostatic force maintains a current position of the electroadhesive device relative to the foreign substrate, and the voltage convertor is separate from the primary function of the electroadhesive device. The primary function can be a mechanism for locomotion, and the voltage convertor can be a Van de Graff generator, a piezoelectric generator, or an inductive switch generator, any of which are driven in a secondary manner as a result of the motor output. | 09-11-2014 |