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US 2017/0290976 A1Published application
Method and System for Shape-Memory Alloy Wire Control
AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsColin H. Murphy, Dean Kamen, John M. Kerwin, Larry B. Gray
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A shape-memory alloy wire actuation system comprising:
- at least one shape-memory alloy wire;
- 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.
1 more element
A shape-memory alloy wire pumping system comprising:
- a pump plunger;
- at least one shape-memory alloy wire connected to the pump plunger wherein the shape-memory alloy wire, when actuated, actuates the pump plunger;
- 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 the pump plunger.
2 more elements
A shape-memory alloy wire actuation system comprising:
- a reservoir comprising a fluid;
- at first shape-memory alloy wire;
- a controller for controlling an ontime of the first shape-memory alloy wire;
- a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the first shape-memory alloy wire, wherein the controller determines the ontime based on the temperature of the shape-memory alloy wire;
- and
- a volume measurement assembly downstream from the reservoir, the volume measurement assembly comprising a volume sensor chamber wherein the fluid from the reservoir enters the volume sensor chamber and wherein the volume measurement assembly determines to volume of fluid in the volume sensor chamber.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.