USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Khoa Nguyen

Thinh Q Hoang

Troy Caruso

Kevin Cochran

Daniel Corey Pines

Kristopher Nodianos

Tan Tran

Bernice Sanford

Laura Blachek

Cuong Nguyen

Adedayo Oyelowo

A micro-electro-pyrotechnic energy-harvesting apparatus to harvest an incidental portion of a propellant energy utilized when a munition is fired freeing a magnet to strike an impact pin that strains a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element generates a collected voltage, which triggers a pyrotechnic initiator that, on activation, produces a straining force on a plurality of stacks of piezoelectric elements. The strained piezoelectric elements, in turn, generate a high voltage output sufficient to ignite the munition's explosive material. The apparatus may be quite small, for example, the cross-sectional size of a pen, which is about one centimeter, yet suitable for generating an electrical ignition of the explosive material.

Micro-electric-pyrotechnic energy-harvesting apparatus for munitions

An initiator system includes a firing pin and a piezoelectric-based energy harvester that generates and stores electric energy when impacted by the firing pin. The electric energy is independently available at a first output and second output of the energy harvester. An electronic time delay is coupled to the second output for generation of an electric trigger signal using the electric energy available at the second output. The electric trigger signal is generated at a selected period of time after the electric energy is available at the second output. An initiation-energy generator is coupled to the first output for the storage of electric energy available thereof. The initiation-energy generator is also coupled to the electronic time delay to receive the electric trigger signal, and uses stored electric energy to generate an initiation explosion when the electric trigger signal is received.

Primerless digital time-delay initiator system

Systems and methods for a self-regulating power supply for MEMS thermal actuators to achieve maximum actuator displacement while preventing over powering. The present invention includes a power supply configured to regulate electrical input power to a MEMS thermal actuator in order to provide the maximum possible electrical input power. Accordingly, the present invention provides a maximum actuator displacement while preventing device failure from over powering. The present invention utilizes resistivity versus temperature properties for silicon or the like to provide a self-regulating power supply that can be utilized to power a variety of MEMS components without requiring custom actuator control circuits for each type of component.

Self-regulating power supply for micro electronic mechanical systems thermal actuators

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Waldorf, MD, United States of America

Khoa Nguyen