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:
Aug. 03, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:
Clifford E. Cotton, III, Pontiac, IL (US);
Assignee:
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 4/108 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 4/108 ;
Abstract
A pre-loaded spring mechanism includes a piezoelectric device and a pre-loaded spring operatively connected to the device. A voltage source is coupled to the piezoelectric device to apply a voltage to the device. The applied voltage causes the piezoelectric device to undergo a physical dimensional change that changes the pre-load of the spring. The pre-load of the spring is adjusted by selectively varying the voltage applied to the piezoelectric device.