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:
May. 27, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2011
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Nicholas W. Pinto, Iv, Ferndale, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Richard J. Skurkis, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Ferndale, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A mechanical system for selectively moving a load a motive distance comprises an actuator operable for applying a force to the load. The actuator includes an active material element having a variable property. A controller is connected to the actuator and operable for sending a first stimulus to the actuator to shift the actuator from a first state to a second state. The second state is associated with detecting the onset of actuation for the actuator. The controller is operable to send the priming stimulus level to the actuator to shift it to the primed state. The actuator includes a priming device operable for determining the onset of actuation of the first active material element.