The objective of this research is a page-format, electronic-ally controlled braile output device for blind computer users. each dot, six of which constitute a braille charac- ter, is actuated by a short length of fine-gauge wire. the wire is made of a shape-memory alloy: nitinol. this methodhas… More

Shape-memory alloys (smas) such as nitinol respond to temperature changes by framatic alteration of their physical stiffness and/or shape. the shape recovery, which depends upon a crystalline phase change, may be initiated by heat from electrical resistance heating of the sma element itself.… More

At the junction of a semiconductor and a metal, the initial mismatch in chemical potentials of the two materials leads to an electric field in the semiconductor as a charge crosses the interface to equalize these potentials. the resulting electric field or depletion width affects the… More

Commercially available electronic braille output devices forpersonal computer users are generally limited to a single line of 20 characters. such devices are of limited utility in processing documents in which content is related to format. a full-page display is desirable, and efforts are under way… More

The need for high volume, high speed digital data recording,storage and retrieval systems is growing rapidly. over the past decade quantum increases in storage capacity and data transfer rates have been met by still greater demand. magnetic media technology is approaching its practical limits of… More

An overwhelming majority of mechanical heart valves are constructed using parts coated with pyrolytic carbon because of its incredible wear characteristics, biocompatibility, and nonthrombogenicity. unfortunately, current designs require that the pyrolytic carbon componentsbe deformed (stressed) and… More

Tini alloy company proposes to develop high-force micro-actuators using vacuum deposited shape-memory alloys. improved micro-actuators are needed for micro-mechanical devices now being researched in laboratories (and which will reach market maturity in a few years) and for at least one device now in… More

We propose to make available a new type of sensory device: acompact multiple-stimulator tactile array mounted so that computer-generated images may be sensed by the finger tip. this device will augment visual output to enable multi-sensory perception of surface texture as measured by ascanning… More

By combining silicon micromachining techniques with shape-memory alloy in the form of sputtered films, it is possible to make compact forceful micro-actuators. such devices are useful in valves and pumps for implantable drug delivery systems and, in combination with microsensors, in miniature robots… More

The goal of this effort is a refreshable "braille" system to make screen and page formatted information accessible to blind computer users. mechanical tactile stimuli are presented to individual fingers, representing dots of braille-coded characters, so that reading is the inverse of writing with a… More

Adiabatic heating of sensor windows produces a background of infrared radiation which may overwhelm the incoming signal from the target. This background will be present at the sensor regardless of the material used in the window. We propose to control the temperature with a flow of coolant… More

The proposed research program is an innovative solution to a critical problem: maintaining stable distance between front and back covers in large, evacuated flat electronic visual displays. Evacuation is necessary because atmospheric pressure distorts the front and back plane surfaces. A solution… More

Present battery systems allocate a large fraction of their weight to redundant capacity and protection against open circuit battery failure. If cells are redundant instead of batteries, this excess weight can be reduced. Then each cell must have a switch to short it out in case of open-circuit… More

Microrelays and microswitches are needed for space systems in order to reduce size and weight. For this purpose we propose to use TiNi thin film shape memory alloy as the actuating mechanism for micromachined switches. TiNi Alloy Company has demonstrated that TiNi thin film is capable of forceful… More

Microrelays and microswitches are needed for space systems in order to reduce size and weight. For this purpose we propose to use TiNi thin film shape memory alloy as the actuating mechanism for micromachined switches. TiNi Alloy Company has demonstrated that TiNi thin film is capable of forceful… More

A tightly-sealing, non-corrosive miniature valve that can be baked and requires power only during on/off switching has many applications, especially in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.A tight seal (10e-10 SCCM) requires a large force. Ability to tolerate bake-out, corrosion resistance, and… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Treatment of stroke and intracranial aneurysms will benefit from technologies that enable access and deployment of implements into small arteries in the brain. Outcomes of vascular procedures cart be improved by… More

A tightly-sealing, non-corrosive miniature valve that can be baked and requires power only during on/off switching has many applications, especially in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.A tight seal (10e-10 SCCM) requires a large force. Ability to tolerate bake-out, corrosion resistance, and… More

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are used increasingly in aerospace, medicine, instrumentation, and consumer products. The most common SMA, based on titanium-nickel, has an upper transition temperature limit of about 100¿C. Many potential applications requirea higher transition temperature. Higher… More

A new material presents an opportunity for very compact storage of mechanical energy. Single crystal superelastic copper-based alloys fabricated by the Stepanov method can have transition temperatures ranging from -190 to +250 deg C, and all have recoverable strain of 9% and more. In the proposed… More