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US 11,890,448 B2Granted
Method and system for shape-memory alloy wire control
AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsColin H. Murphy, Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Larry B. Gray
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Abstract
A method for controlling a device using a shape-memory alloy wire is disclosed. The method includes determining an ontime for the shape-memory alloy wire based on a target volume to be pumped by a pump plunger, determining the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire and adjusting the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire.
Claims13
A shape-memory alloy wire pumping system comprising:
- at least one shape-memory alloy wire;
- a pump plunger connected to the at least one shape-memory alloy wire wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the pump plunger;
- a valve member connected to the at least one shape-memory alloy wire wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the valve member;
- a reservoir upstream from the valve member, wherein the valve member controls the flow of fluid from a reservoir to an exit;
- a controller for controlling an ontime of the at least one shape-memory alloy wire;
- and
- a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire, wherein the controller determines the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire before actuation of one of the pump plunger and the valve member.
4 more elements
A shape-memory alloy wire pumping system comprising:
- a plurality of shape-memory alloy wires;
- a pump plunger connected to at least one of the shape-memory alloy wires wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the pump plunger;
- a first valve member connected to at least one of the shape-memory alloy wires wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the first valve member;
- a second valve member connected to at least one of the shape-memory alloy wires wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the second valve member;
- a reservoir upstream from the first valve member, wherein the first valve member controls the flow of fluid from a reservoir to an exit;
- a controller for controlling an ontime of the shape-memory alloy wires;
- and
- a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of at least one of the shape-memory alloy wires wherein the controller determines the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.