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. 05, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2012
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Geoffrey P. Mcknight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
Christopher B Churchill, Ventura, CA (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Ferndale, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Geoffrey P. McKnight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
Christopher B Churchill, Ventura, CA (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Ferndale, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.