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. 22, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 19, 2006
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
James W. Wells, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Christopher P. Henry, Newbury Park, CA (US);
Ivan G. Sears, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Douglas M. Linn, Commerce Township, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
James W. Wells, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Christopher P. Henry, Newbury Park, CA (US);
Ivan G. Sears, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Douglas M. Linn, Commerce Township, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A reconfigurable fixture device system, including: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member; a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.