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. 07, 2012
Filed:
May. 08, 2009
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
Geoffrey P. Mcknight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Nicholas William Pinto, Ferndale, MI (US);
Kenneth A. Strom, Washington, MI (US);
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
Geoffrey P. McKnight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Nicholas William Pinto, Ferndale, MI (US);
Kenneth A. Strom, Washington, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An overheating protection system adapted for use with a shape memory alloy actuator element, includes at least one switching shape memory alloy element presenting a slower activation period than that of the actuator element, and configured to selectively prevent activation of the actuator element, when the actuator element is actually or predicted to be experiencing overheating; and a circuit comprising the system, wherein the switching element and/or a circuit implement functions to modify activation of the actuator element.