USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Ezra Chen

Daniel Louis Jean

Gerald R Laib

David Olson

John E Hendershot

Michael Beggans

Lawrence C Fan

Troy Caruso

Kevin Cochran

Kevin Genson

Andrew Jen

Anthony Mansfield

Veronica Badescu

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

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

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 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.

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Potomac, MD, United States of America

Ezra Chen