3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Hydrograph Clean Power Inc.

Ranjith Divigalpitiya

David Edward Livingstone

Mary I Buckett

Glen Connell

David C Chambers

Gabriella Miholics

Pei-Jung Chen

David A Kanno

Susan C Noe

Gary A Korba

Vijay Patel

Agatona D Monteagudo

Tejmeen K Sandhu

Matthew T Scholz

Lorne Arthur Whitehead

Mark J Pellerite

Mieczyslaw H Mazurek

John P Baetzold

Robert S Moshrefzadeh

Elisa M Cross

Arokiaraj Jesudoss

Keith K Mclaughlin

William B Robbins

Frank A Brandys

Tyler J E Clark

Patrice Jannic

Richard Sabatier

Boon Kiat Lim

Jian Li

Giovanni Fanchini

Bimsara W Disanayaka

Earl L Cook

Raul P Moraes

Sabastine C Ezugwu

Anibal S Sanchez-Garcia

Weixing Hou

Jonathan M Cliffen

Paolo Rocca

Christophe Arnold

Melvin T Zin

Jun Wang

Tyler JE Clark

An actuator device comprises an enclosed volume region defined by a housing body and a movable surface, such that at least a portion of the enclosed volume region is expandable from an initial volume state to an enlarged volume state. An electrically conductive porous material is disposed in the enclosed volume region, wherein the electrically conductive porous material has a mass density of from about 0.5 mg/cc to about 100 mg/cc, and wherein at least about 90% of the electrically conductive porous material is a carbonaceous material. A first electrode and a second electrode are configured to pass an electric current through the electrically conductive porous material. When an electric current is passed through the electrically conductive porous material, air disposed in the enclosed volume region expands and displaces the movable surface. A method of displacing a movable surface in an actuator device is also described.

Actuator comprising electrically conductive porous material

A device includes a connected array of cells formed in a stack of flexible sheets. Each pair of adjacent sheets in the stack includes a first sheet and a second sheet bonded together at multiple bond locations. Each sheet has an electrically conductive layer disposed on an electrically non-conductive layer, the conductive layer comprising an electrically conductive non-metal material. Each pair of adjacent sheets in the stack is arranged so that the non-conductive layer of each first sheet is between the conductive layers of the first and second sheets. The cells of the array reversibly transition between an open state and a closed state in response to an electric potential having a magnitude greater than a threshold value applied between the conductive layers of the first and second sheets.

Electrically switchable shutter

A heating tape comprises an insulated heating element that includes a heating element layer comprising a polymer composite having conductive particles and at least one set of conductive electrodes at least partially embedded in the polymer composite and extending along at least a substantial portion of the length of the heating tape. A heating tape system for a pipe or other surface, further includes a power ramp controller having a solid state relay component to regulate an in-rush of current to the heating element. The heating tape system also includes a connector having multiple contact points.

Heating tape and system

An article includes a substrate having a first major surface and optionally a second major surface. A layering arrangement is disposed on either or both of the first major surface and the second major surface. The layering arrangement includes a carbon layer and a conducting polymer layer.

Carbon coated articles and methods for making the same

A method comprises rubbing a powder comprising titanium dioxide particles against a surface of an aluminum substrate to form a layer bonded to the surface of the aluminum substrate. The powder comprises titanium dioxide and is essentially free of organic particles. Composite articles preparable by the method are also disclosed.

Method of depositing titania on a substrate and composite article

A transparent conductive article includes a transparent substrate, a thin electrically conductive grid, and a carbon nanolayer. The grid is disposed on the substrate, and the carbon nanolayer is also disposed on the substrate and in contact with the grid. The conductive grid and the carbon nanolayer may have thicknesses of no more than 1 micron and 50 nanometers, respectively. The carbon nanolayer has a morphology that includes graphite platelets embedded in nano-crystalline carbon, and can be produced with a buffing procedure using dry carbon particles without substantially damaging the grid structure. The article may have a visible light transmission of at least 80%, and a sheet resistance less than 500 or 100 ohms/square. The transparent substrate may comprise a flexible polymer film. The disclosed articles may substantially maintain an initial sheet resistance value when subjected to flexing.

Electrically conductive article with high optical transmission

Article having a first single, discrete atomic, dry layer of a first weakly bonded crystalline material on at least a surface of a substrate. Embodiments of the articles are useful, for example, in automotive under-the-hood parts exposed to chemicals and extreme temperatures.

Article and method of making and using the same

Current collectors and methods are provided that relate to electrodes that are useful in electrochemical cells. The provided current collectors include a metallic substrate, a substantially uniform nano-scale carbon coating, and an active electrode material. The coating has a maximum thickness of less than about 200 nanometers.

Electrode including current collector with nano-scale coating and method of making the same

Current collectors and methods are provided that relate to electrodes that are useful in lithium polymer electrochemical cells. The provided current collectors include a metallic substrate, a substantially uniform nano-scale carbon coating, and an active electrode material. The coating has a maximum thickness of less than about 200 nanometers.

A method of making scrolls is provided that includes providing a tape having a first side and second side wherein the first side of the tape is has an adhesive disposed thereon and the second side of the tape has a release coating disposed thereon, affixing the adhesive to a solid surface, buff-coating exfoliatable particles on the release side of the tape to form a coating; and peeling the tape from the solid surface at an angle. The coating separates from the release side of the tape and curls inwards to form scrolls. The scrolls can include graphite. Also provided is a continuous method of making scrolls and an apparatus.

Method and apparatus for making scrolls from exfoliatable materials

An interdigital electronic device comprises a conductor, an interdigital electrode, and a composite material disposed between the conductor and the interdigital electrode for electrically connecting the conductor and the interdigital electrode under application of sufficient pressure therebetween. The composite material comprises conductive particles at least partially embedded in an electrically insulating layer. The conductive particles have no relative orientation and are disposed so that substantially all electrical connections made between the conductor and the interdigital electrode are in the z direction. At least one of the conductor and the interdigital electrode is movable toward the other.

Interdigital force switches and sensors

An adhesive membrane comprises (a) a conductor; (b) a composite material comprising conductive particles at least partially embedded in an electrically insulating layer disposed on the conductor; and (c) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on the composite material, the conductive particles being capable of electrically connecting the conductor to a second conductor under application of sufficient pressure therebetween, the conductive particles having no relative orientation and being disposed so that substantially all electrical connections made between the conductor and a second conductor will be in the z direction, and the combined thickness of the electrically insulating layer and the pressure sensitive adhesive layer being greater than the size of the largest conductive particle when the largest conductive particle is measured in the z direction.

Adhesive membrane for force switches and sensors

A force sensing membrane comprises (a) a first conductor that is movable toward a second conductor; (b) a second conductor; and (c) a composite material disposed between the first and second conductors for electrically connecting the first and second conductors under application of sufficient pressure therebetween; and (d) means for measuring dynamic electrical response across the force sensing membrane, the composite material comprising conductive particles at least partially embedded in an elastomeric layer, the conductive particles having no relative orientation and being disposed so that substantially all electrical connections made between the first and second conductors are in the z direction, and the elastomeric layer being capable of returning to substantially its original dimensions on release of pressure.

Force sensing membrane

An electronic assembly comprising a first electronic element, a second electronic element, and a durably flexible bond therebetween. The bond comprises an anisotropic conductive adhesive that includes elongated electrically conductive particles. The bond provides at least one electrical pathway between the first electronic element and the second electronic element through an elongated contact region. This bond is functionally maintained for at least about 200 flexes.

Durable electronic assembly with conductive adhesive

Growing community of inventors

London, Canada

Ranjith Divigalpitiya