USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

Daniel Louis Jean

Ezra Chen

Gerald R Laib

David Olson

Michael Beggans

Gabriel L Smith

John E Hendershot

Lawrence C Fan

Troy Caruso

Michael A Deeds

Kevin Cochran

Andrew Jen

Richard Christopher Low

Thinh Q Hoang

Kevin Genson

John Frederick Kunstmann

Wade Babcock

Scott Rauscher

Kristopher Nodianos

Ralph E Balestrieri

Allen Keeney

Christopher Hovland

Veronica Badescu

Anthony Mansfield

The friction driven linear motor includes a slide element with a portion with a pair of parallel straight sides. The slide element is contiguous with a zig-zag spring-like element, which is contiguous with an anchor block, which is contiguous with a MEMS substrate. The zig-zag spring-like element deforms as the slide element moves away from the anchor block. There are opposing pairs of v-beam thermal actuators. Each actuator includes a projecting cantilever beam with an end tip cycled to impinge, angularly, the slide element and extend, therein frictionally pushing the slide. A modulating current ohmically cycles the actuator from retraction to braking to pushing. At high frequencies the cantilever beam never fully retracts. The entire linear motor is composed of and is etched on a MEMS substrate.

Mems friction drive linear motor

A ratcheting micromotor includes a ratchet bar defining ratchet teeth along an edge thereof, and first and second ends in opposition to one another. The first end is adapted to be coupled to an object to be moved. A spring is coupled on one end thereof to the second end of the ratchet bar and adapted to be fixed at another end thereof to a base. A bi-directional actuator configured for linear movement in one of a first direction and a second direction, and when energized has a common yoke coupled to a central portion thereof for movement in correspondence therewith. The common yoke includes teeth formed along an edge and positioned such that its teeth engage a portion of the ratchet teeth. A control system energizes the bi-directional actuator to move, alternately, in the first direction and the second direction.

Racheting micromotor using bi-directional actuator

An apparatus used in a fuze device, which includes a MEMS micro-rotor. The micro-rotor of the apparatus may move an explosive material, for example, a fuze material, from an out-of-line position to an in-line position. The micro-rotor includes an integral cavity in which the material may be safely loaded and held in the out-of-line position. At an appropriate time, the fuze device of a fully assembled ordnance may be armed. When the apparatus is activated, the micro-rotor carefully moves the explosive material to the in-line position, where the ordnance is armed.

MEMS rotary fuze architecture for out-of-line applications

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for explosive systems such as grenades with novel micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) fuze and novel placement of the MEMS fuze providing increased performance, reliability, and safety. The MEMS fuze is disposed towards a rear portion of the explosive system providing superior performance and design flexibility. Further, the explosive system includes electronics configured to implement a launch timer and to sense impact or when the system stops spinning. The present invention includes an operational method improving safety and reliability by preventing detonation until after the launch timer expires, upon impact, or when the explosive system stops spinning.

Advanced grenade concept with novel placement of MEMS fuzing technology

To fabricate high aspect ratio metal structures, a two-layer structure is provided on a conductive layer. The two-layer structure includes a first layer adjacent the conductive layer and a second layer adjacent the first layer where the second layer is etchable by a Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) process. Using the DRIE process, at least one selected region of the second layer is completely etched away with the selected region being at least partially aligned with a region of the conductive layer such that the first layer is then exposed thereover. The first layer so-exposed is then removed to expose the region of the conductive layer thereunder. Metal is electroplated onto the exposed conductive layer and any remaining portions of the two-layer structure are then removed.

Method of fabricating high aspect ratio metal structures

The present disclosure provides a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) igniter which is an ignition safety device (ISD) in a small, low-cost, low-power, and highly reliable design. The MEMS igniter provides both out-of-line safety and an ignition mechanism for a rocket motor. The igniter is initially held in a safe, out-of-line position with respect to a propellant. Upon receiving appropriate arm and fire commands and sensing the correct environment, MEMS mechanisms move an ignition component into alignment and the device can function.

Microelectromechanical systems ignition safety device

A hermetically packaged G-switch includes a MEMS structure having a bottom substrate layer, a top device layer and an intermediate oxide layer. A mass disposed in the top device layer is connected to one, two or three anchor portions using spring arms. One end of a spring arm is connected to the mass and another end to an anchor portion. The connection to the anchor portion includes a T shaped arrangement, which has a torsional spring cross piece connected to the spring arm. A cap containing a conductive pad is hermetically sealed to the MEMS structure. When a predetermined acceleration is attained, the mass makes electrical contact with the conductive pad to close the G-switch.

Hermetically packaged MEMS G-switch

A MEMS fuze having a moveable slider with a microdetonator at an end for positioning adjacent an initiator. A setback activated lock and a spin activated lock prevent movement of the slider until respective axial and centrifugal acceleration levels have been achieved. Once these acceleration levels are achieved, the slider is moved by a V-beam shaped actuator arrangement to position the microdetonator relative to a secondary lead to start an explosive train in a munitions round.

MEMS fuze assembly

A MEMS mechanical initiator having a striker arm extending from a striker body. The tip of the striker arm is adjacent to, but does not touch, the side of a microdetonator. A cocking and release mechanism moves the striker body such that the striker arm pulls away from the side of the microdetonator against the action of a set of springs connected to the striker body. Thereafter the cocking and release mechanism releases the striker body such that the tip of the striker arm swipes the side of the microdetonator causing initiation thereof.

MEMS mechanical initiator for a microdetonator

A projectile includes a projectile body including a flow surface; the flow surface including at least one control surface formed therein. The controls surface is formed continuous with the flow surface, and a pressure source is connected to at least one control surface. The pressure source delivers a pressure to at least one control surface to cause at least one control surface to bulge away from the flow surface.

MEMS control surface for projectile steering

A thermoelectric actuator moves in a first direction and an opposite direction upon the application and removal of a current. An actuator means is driven by the thermoelectric actuator and includes a set of drive teeth. The drive teeth engage with a first set of teeth on a slider member to move it to a desired position. A spring biases the slider back to an initial position. A keeper arrangement, having teeth that engage a second set of teeth on the slider, maintains the slider in its advanced position and prevents it from going back to its initial position.

MEMS linear thermoelectric motor apparatus

A MEMS apparatus having a substrate layer, a device layer and an intermediate oxide layer joining them. A slider is formed in the device layer and includes an enlarged end portion. A walled chamber having a hollow interior in which is positioned a microdetonator is formed in the substrate layer beneath the enlarged end portion and is secured to it by the oxide layer. A drive is operable to move the slider, and with it, the walled chamber, from an initial position to a final position. When in the final position an initiator is operable to initiate the microdetonator.

MEMS microdetonator/initiator apparatus for a MEMS fuze

A MEMS resettable timer including a primary inertial element and at least one secondary inertial element, which includes a camming surface. When the secondary inertial element moves, its camming surface engages the camming surface of a locking element to remove it from the notch of a subsequent inertial element. When the primary inertial element is released for movement it activates a resetting arrangement to place the secondary inertial element back to the initial position and prevent further movement of the primary inertial element. The cycle is repeatable to commence some predetermined action.

MEMS resettable timer

A non-electric, multiple shock event sensing device has shock sensors coupled to a substrate and arranged in an array defined by a plurality of rows and at least one column. At any given time, only one row of shock sensors is readied for the detection of a shock event. The occurrence of a shock event is detected by the readied row while simultaneously causing a next successive row in the array to be readied for detection.

Growing community of inventors

Odenton, MD, United States of America

Daniel Louis Jean