Adc Telecommunications, Inc.

University of Minnesota

Bradley J Nelson

Karl Vollmers

Susan C Bromley

Kamal Deep Mothilal

Arunkumar Subramanian

John A Bushey

Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos

Donald G Krantz

Eniko Todorov Enikov

Ellison C Urban, Ii

Kevin Roberts

Alan N Johnson

Richard M Voyles

Paul E Rybski

Kathleen A Griggs

A thermal microactuator is provided that can be deflected in multiple positions. The actuator has a hot arm and a cold arm coupled together at their distal ends suspended above a reference plane of a substrate. A potential difference is applied across the hot arm so that a current circulates through the hot arm but not the cold arm.

Thermal micro-actuator based on selective electrical excitation

A device is described for latching an actuator to a substrate where the substrate includes a thermally activated material located on the substrate and a heater capable of heating the thermally activated material until it softens. The actuator includes a contact area that is spaced above the thermally activated material in a non-contact position. The actuator is movable from the non-contact position to a contact position where the contact area contacts the thermally activated material of the substrate. A method of latching actuator is also provided including heating the thermally activated material until it softens and moving an actuator into the contact position.

Thermally activated latch

A microelectromechanical relay and a method of fabricating the same that combines electrostatic actuation with electromagnetic actuation. The relay has very low contact resistance when the relay is in its ON state and enhanced contact-to-contact isolation when the relay is in its OFF state. The relay includes a substrate having a trench formed therein, a first pair of contacts located in the trench and an actuator for controllably establishing electrical contact between the first pair of contacts. The actuator includes spaced apart supports on the substrate and a movable beam extending between the supports. A contact cross bar is located on the movable beam facing the first pair of contacts. A first electrode is located on the movable beam and a second electrode is located on the substrate. Electromagnetic force is used to deflect the movable beam towards the substrate and then electrostatic force is used to bring the contact cross bar in physical contact with the first pair of contacts.

MEMS micro-relay with coupled electrostatic and electromagnetic actuation

A robotic vehicle capable of traveling over various terrain and traversing obstacles. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a cylindrical body having two or more drive wheels coupled to the ends thereof. The wheels are selectively powered to propel the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a spring member which may be deflected to a first, stored position from a second, extended position. The spring member may be quickly released from the first, stored position such that it strikes the terrain with sufficient force to lift and propel the vehicle over or onto a proximate obstacle or object. Robotic vehicles of the present invention may also include one or more sensing devices operable to collect information. Electronics may further permit autonomous, semi-autonomous, and/or remote control of the vehicle. In still other embodiments, the robotic vehicle forms part of a multi-robot surveillance team. The robotic vehicles may be delivered to the desired location through the use of a deployment and communication apparatus which, in one embodiment, is a larger robotic vehicle. The deployment and communication apparatus may form part of the communication system between the robotic vehicles and a remote workstation.

Miniature robotic vehicles and methods of controlling same

Growing community of inventors

North Oaks, MN, United States of America

Bradley J Nelson