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. 20, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 22, 2010
Shivaram Ac, Bangalore, IN;
Amol G. Thakare, Akola, IN;
Vidyashankar R. Buravalla, Bangalore, IN;
Srinivasan Suryanarayan, Bangalore, IN;
Shivaram Ac, Bangalore, IN;
Amol G. Thakare, Akola, IN;
Vidyashankar R. Buravalla, Bangalore, IN;
Srinivasan Suryanarayan, Bangalore, IN;
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A stiffness control system and apparatus includes one or more stiffness elements which are each activated by a smart actuator including a smart material which may be one of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, an electrorheological (ER) fluid, and a piezo-stack. The stiffness control system includes a first and second interface adaptable to transmit input loads and a plurality of stiffness elements. A first stiffness element is operatively connected to the first and second interfaces and is continuously responsive to a change in system operating characteristics including input loads. A second stiffness element is selectively activated by the smart actuator so as to selectively respond to a change in system conditions. The continuous response of the first stiffness element can be selectively combined with the activated response of the second stiffness element to dynamically control system stiffness.