Event Activated Micro Control Devices
AssigneemPhase Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSteve Simon, Victor A. Lifton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of activating a micro-cell in which the micro-cell includes a first compartment, a second compartment, a fluid in the first compartment, an element in the second compartment and a porous barrier separating the first compartment from the second compartment. The porous barrier, in a first state, is operable to prevent the fluid from entering the second compartment whereas the porous barrier, in a second state, is operable, in response to an event, to allow the fluid to enter the second compartment and interact with the element in the second compartment so as to generate an activation signal.
Claims71
A micro-cell comprising:
- a first compartment;
- a second compartment;
- a fluid in the first compartment;
- an element in the second compartment;
- and
- a porous barrier separating the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein, in a first state, the porous barrier is operable to prevent the fluid from entering the second compartment and wherein, in a second state, the barrier is operable, in response to an event, to allow the fluid to enter the second compartment and interact with the element to generate an activation signal.
A method of activating a micro-cell comprising:
- causing an increase in pressure difference between a fluid in a first compartment of the cell and a vapor in a second compartment of the cell above a critical pressure, wherein the increase in pressure difference allows the fluid to flow from the first compartment through a porous barrier into the second compartment.
A method of activating a micro-cell comprising:
- applying an external stimulus to the micro-cell to at least partially collapse a barrier wherein the collapse of the barrier allows a fluid in a first compartment of the cell to pass into a second compartment of the cell.
A method of activating a micro-cell comprising:
- applying a voltage across a fluid and a porous barrier, wherein application of the voltage causes the fluid to flow from a first compartment, through micro-pores in the barrier, to a second compartment and wherein an activation signal is generated when the fluid interacts with an element in the second compartment.
A method of detecting an event or stimulus applied to a micro-cell comprising:
- detecting a signal representing the event or stimulus, wherein the event or stimulus causes a fluid in a first compartment of the micro-cell to pass through a porous barrier and into a second compartment of the micro-cell and wherein, upon entering the second compartment, the fluid interacts with an element in the second compartment to generate the signal.
A method of activating a device comprising:
- applying an event or stimulus to a micro-cell coupled to the device,
- wherein the event or stimulus causes a fluid in a first compartment of the micro-cell to pass through a porous barrier and into a second compartment of the micro-cell, wherein an activation signal is generated when the fluid interacts with an element in the second compartment, and wherein the activation signal activates the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.