The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 1992
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1990
Stephen M Emo, Elkhart, IN (US);
Terrance R Kinney, South Bend, IN (US);
Allied-Signal Inc., Morristown, NJ (US);
Abstract
An optically controlled fluid powered actuator is disclosed and includes a primary fluid valve positioning transducer which responds to optical binary coded control words to position a fluid. The actuator has a pair of opposed stacks of piezoelectric elements with the relative length of the piezoelectric elements in each stack being in the same ratios as the relative weights of bits in the control words. There are two sets of optically actuated electrical switches each responsive to control words to energize corresponding ones of the piezoelectric elements in an associated stack of elements. A first class lever has one end coupled to a controlling portion of a fluid valve and the other end interposed between the stacks of piezoelectric elements so that the lever can translate motion of elements in a piezoelectric stack into fluid valve actuation. A fluid powered electrical generator provides the sole source of electrical energy for the piezoelectric elements. A pair of optical fibers convey the optical binary coded control words in the form of a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal to corresponding ones of the sets of switches.