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US 8,806,941 B2Granted
Extension sensing actuator
AssigneeThe Science and Technology Facilities Council
InventorsMel Strachan, Katherine Joanne Kirk, Alexander Cochran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device comprising a solid-state actuator (100), means for inputting an acoustic signal to the actuator (104) and means for measuring the resultant signal (104). The measured acoustic signal can be used to determine the extension of the solid-state actuator.
Claims30
A method for measuring the extension of a solid state actuator comprising:
- inputting an acoustic signal to the actuator;
- measuring the acoustic signal that has passed along the actuator;
- and
- using the measured signal to determine the actuator length or a change to that length.
1 more element
A device comprising:
- a solid-state actuator;
- means for inputting an acoustic signal to the actuator;
- and
- means for measuring a resultant signal to determine the actuator length or a change to that length.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a solid-state actuator;
- means inputting an acoustic signal to the actuator;
- means measuring the acoustic signal that has passed along the actuator;
- and
- means using the measured signal to determine the actuator length or a change to that length.
2 more elements
A device comprising:
- a solid-state actuator;
- an acoustic or ultrasonic transducer or resonator incorporated with said solid-state actuator;
- and
- means for measuring a frequency of the transducer or resonator to determine the solid-state actuator length or a change to that length.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.