University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.

University of California

Joseph Devin Schneider

Shamus Patrick McNamara

Gregory Paul Carman

Abdon E Sepulveda

Jinzhao Hu

Sidhant Tiwari

Wenzhong Yan

Zhi Yao

Elmer Wu

A multiferroic antenna apparatus and method are described which provides increased energy efficiencies and ease of implementation. Magnetoelastic and/or magnetostrictive resonator are coupled to a piezoelectric substrate, along with electrodes coupled to its opposing surfaces. In receive mode the resonators create mechanical waves in response to being excited into magnetic oscillation by receiving electromagnetic radiation, and these mechanical waves coupled to the piezoelectric substrate causing it to generate an electrical output signal at said electrodes. In transmit mode an electrical signal coupled through the electrodes induces mechanical waves in the piezoelectric substrate directed to the resonators which are excited into magnetic oscillation to output electromagnetic waves.

Extremely electrically small antennas based on multiferroic materials

A strained bilayer film with reinforcing members is used to open and close gas flow outlets in a microvalve array. The bottom layer of the bilayer film is compressive and the top layer is tensile. Reinforcing members are made from compressive material that accomplishes the dual objectives of reducing potential defects at the interface between the anchor region and the free region of the actuator, and controlling the stresses along the edges of the strained bilayer to avoid curling as the actuator unrolls from its normal coiled configuration in response to an applied voltage. Because of the configuration, the strained bilayer film occupies a minimal amount of space compared to other systems when the valve is opened, and it permits a higher density of microvalves to be utilized. Optional supports are provided over gas flow channel openings to increase the area over which the voltage is applied, increasing electrostatic stability of the actuators in maintaining their unrolled state for a variety of uses. Such uses include, but are not limited to, pneumatic manifolds or other practical uses that involve transmission of air or fluids, including for lab-on-a-chip applications, as well as for providing air flow channels for a configurable tactile tablet to provide the visually impaired with a tactile representation of shapes and designs, to name some examples.

Bilayer microvalve arrays for pneumatic and fluidic applications

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Joseph Devin Schneider