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:
Nov. 04, 2008
Filed:
Jan. 27, 2005
Scott Ryan Kirkpatirck, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Azad Siahmakoun, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Thomas Mcdaniel Adams, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Zhefu Wang, Corvallis, IN (US);
Scott Ryan Kirkpatirck, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Azad Siahmakoun, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Thomas McDaniel Adams, Terre Haute, IN (US);
Zhefu Wang, Corvallis, IN (US);
Other;
Abstract
A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based heat engine capable of converting thermal energy gradients into mechanical or electrical energy, as well as its fabrication process is disclosed. This heat engine design consists of a stressed oscillating beam formed from a shape memory alloy (SMA) thin film. As the temperature of the beam changes, its shape changes due to the phase transformation of the shape memory alloy, causing it to oscillate between a hot source and a cold source. Due to the hysteretic behavior of the phase transformation, the oscillating SMA cantilever beam produces a net mechanical work output that may be either converted to electrical energy or mechanically linked to other MEMS devices.