New Jersey Institute of Technology

The Public Health Research Institute of the City of New York, Inc.

Timothy N Chang

Biao Cheng

Zhiming Ji

Peter Tolias

Qiong Shen

Reggie J Caudill

Michael Shimanovich

A firing inhibition system for a firearm includes an electromechanical actuator electrically connected to a dynamic grip recognition module including at least one sensor and a microcontroller, wherein the at least one sensor is located in a portion of a firearm operable to receive grip pressure from a user and wherein the at least one sensor is operable to transmit a signal to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is operable to receive programming comprising grip pressure of an authorized user and is operable to interpret whether the grip pressure of the user matches the grip pressure of the authorized user, and to send a signal to the electromechanical actuator to actuate or to not actuate.

System and method for weapon discharge inhibition

A liquid delivery apparatus is provided for depositing liquid materials onto prescribed areas. The apparatus includes a sensing and delivery pin and a photo sensor. The apparatus is sized to deliver a droplet of liquid material to the surface of a target area without coming into contact with the target surface. The apparatus is also capable of drawing geometric features, such as lines and grids of liquid material. The photo sensor measures the intensity of light during a processing cycle. Measured reflected-light intensity can be compared in real-time to a reference curve which is based on test process cycles representing the light intensity expected when the process proceeds in the preferred fashion to produce a normal spot having an expected droplet size. The light intensity measurements can also be fitted with a mathematical function such as an asymmetric double sigmoidal curve.

Delivery and sensing of metered amounts of liquid materials

A system and method for measurement are disclosed which may include providing an input command signal; convolving the input command signal with a plurality of impulse signals to produce a transducer drive signal; and activating a first pressure transducer with the drive signal to transmit a pressure wave output from the transducer.

System and method for pressure wave transmission and measurement

Simultaneous pressure and position information is accurately measured in a sensor realized by utilizing first and second sensor elements that each exhibit a decreasing width over the length of the sensor element and that are arranged overlapping each other and in a substantially complementary orientation to one another with respect to the width so that the point of narrowest width of the first sensor element overlaps the point of the widest width of the second sensor element. Pressure applied to the sensor causes each sensor element to generate an electrical signal that is proportional to both the applied pressure and the surface area at the location of the applied pressure. As a result of the complementary orientation and overlapping for these sensor elements, the first and second sensor elements generate an asymmetric pair of signals that uniquely define the applied pressure by position and magnitude.

Film based position and pressure sensor

Techniques for the delivery of metered amounts of liquid material include the use of a pin, such as an optical fiber. A sample of the liquid material may be placed on the tip of the pin for delivery to a target area, such as a specific location on a microarray, in a contactless manner. Light transmitted through the pin may be detected to facilitate accurate measuring of the pin's position.

Delivery of metered amounts of liquid materials

A piezoelectric actuator that is capable of providing up to six degrees of positioning freedom. Specifically, the piezoelectric actuator is capable of providing positioning freedom in three linear directions (x, y, z) and three rotary angles (&phgr;, &thgr;, &psgr;). The piezoelectric actuator typically comprises a plurality of unit cells stacked on top of one another. Each unit cell comprises a base plate, a cruciform base, and a stack of piezoelectric plates. The base plate is used to support the cruciform base. The cruciform base comprises a piezoelectric cruciform-shaped body, a plurality of electrodes formed on the top surface of the cruciform-shaped body, and a ground plane formed on the bottom surface of the cruciform-shaped body. Each piezoelectric plate in the stack of piezoelectric plates comprises a piezoelectric plate body, a plurality of electrodes formed on the top surface of the plate body, and a ground plane formed on the bottom surface of the plate body. The piezoelectric plates are bonded together and to the cruciform base. Motion (linear or angular) is generated by applying suitable drive voltages to the electrodes.

Piezoelectric multiple degree of freedom actuator

In one embodiment, a device for generating ultra-high precision rectilinear movement based on aerostatic suspension and magnetic traction, the device including a nut, a leadscrew, a thrust bearing, a contactless motor, and feedback drive electronics. The contactless motor provides the actuation by turning the leadscrew which is made of magnetically soft materials and has a pitched helical groove machined on its surface. The leadscrew passes through the core of the nut which is free to move in a rectilinear motion on a aerostatically suspended guide. The nut, also made with magnetic material, has a matching helical groove in its core so that a closed magnetic circuit is formed between the grooves of the leadscrew and the nut. The closed circuit in turn provides the necessary magnetic traction to move the nut in a rectilinear fashion. A primary aerostatic suspension is utilized to stabilize and center the leadscrew and nut transversally. A secondary transversal stabilization is provided by the thrust bearing to center the leadscrew in the axial direction. The nut is vibrationally isolated and can be rectilinearly moved with precision. Thus, all surface friction is eliminated, thereby reducing friction to that generated by air.

Low friction, high precision actuator

An apparatus and method for utilizing piezoelectric devices for precise positioning purposes without having to endure the detrimental effects of hysteresis. The apparatus and method involving driving a pair of piezoelectric stacks with complementary low amplitude, high frequency dither signals produced by an oscillating source. The complementary low amplitude, high frequency dither arrangement, referred to as an intermediate dither, is self-compensating so that no residual dither is transmitted to a load attached to one of the stacks. Furthermore, the dithering of each stack results in a virtual elimination of hysteresis in the material of the piezoelectric stacks.

Growing community of inventors

Montville, NJ, United States of America

Timothy N Chang