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:
Jul. 24, 2007
Filed:
May. 02, 2005
Deepesh K. Kholwadwala, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Gabriel A. Johnston, Trophy Club, TX (US);
Brandon R. Rohrer, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Paul C. Galambos, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Murat Okandan, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Deepesh K. Kholwadwala, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Gabriel A. Johnston, Trophy Club, TX (US);
Brandon R. Rohrer, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Paul C. Galambos, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Murat Okandan, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Sandia Corporation, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Abstract
The present invention comprises a novel, lightweight, massively parallel device comprising microelectromechanical (MEMS) fluidic actuators, to reconfigure the profile, of a surface. Each microfluidic actuator comprises an independent bladder that can act as both a sensor and an actuator. A MEMS sensor, and a MEMS valve within each microfluidic actuator, operate cooperatively to monitor the fluid within each bladder, and regulate the flow of the fluid entering and exiting each bladder. When adjacently spaced in a array, microfluidic actuators can create arbitrary surface profiles in response to a change in the operating environment of the surface. In an embodiment of the invention, the profile of an airfoil is controlled by independent extension and contraction of a plurality of actuators, that operate to displace a compliant cover.