ERIK SAARMAA
Broker in Boston, MA

6563254, May 13, 2003

Jan 15, 2002

10/047199

Richard Perkins - Malden MA
Gerald Caron - Andover MA
Erik Saarmaa - Boston MA

Cymer, Inc. - San Diego CA

H01L 4108

310354, 310311, 310328

An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flexural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker. In other embodiments one or more active regions of piezo material are attached to thin or movable wall regions of the unit to sense strain and, in conjunction with a conditioning circuit, produce electrical switching or control signals for the device.

6359371, Mar 19, 2002

Oct 19, 1999

09/420532

Richard Perkins - Malden MA
Gerald Caron - Andover MA
Erik Saarmaa - Boston MA

Active Control eXperts, Inc. - Cambridge MA

H01L 4108

310328, 310311, 310354

An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flexural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker. In other embodiments one or more active regions of piezo material are attached to thin or movable wall regions of the unit to sense strain and, in conjunction with a conditioning circuit, produce electrical switching or control signals for the device.

6376967, Apr 23, 2002

Jan 12, 2001

09/759844

Erik Saarmaa - Boston MA
Kenneth B. Lazarus - Concord MA
Charles Van Hoy - Cambridge MA
Richard Perkins - Malden MA
Mark Beauregard - Frankline MA

Active Control eXperts, Inc. - Cambridge MA

H01L 4108

310329, 310330, 310348

An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flexural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker. In other embodiments one or more active regions of piezo material are attached to thin or movable wall regions of the unit to sense strain and, in conjunction with a conditioning circuit, produce electrical switching or control signals for the device.

6198206, Mar 6, 2001

Mar 20, 1998

9/045750

Erik Saarmaa - Boston MA
Kenneth B. Lazarus - Concord MA
Charles Van Hoy - Cambridge MA
Richard Perkins - Malden MA
Mark Beauregard - Frankline MA

Active Control eXperts, Inc. - Cambridge MA

H01L 4108

310340

An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flxural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker. In other embodiments one or more active regions of piezo material are attached to thin or movable wall regions of the unit to sense strain and, in conjunction with a conditioning circuit, produce electrical switching or control signals for the device.

6291928, Sep 18, 2001

Dec 15, 1999

9/461941

Kenneth B. Lazarus - Concord MA
Jeffrey W. Moore - Arlington MA
Erik Saarmaa - Boston MA
Eric Fitch - Medford MA
Carl Prestia - Groton MA
Edward F. Crawley - Cambridge MA

Active Control Experts, Inc. - Cambridge MA

H01L 4108

310328

A hybrid actuator includes strain actuated elements that displace fluid to move a piston, with the elements forming a fluid housing, and being oriented and actuated to optimize force, stroke or bandwidth. In one preferred embodiment the elements are cylinders enclosing the fluid, with radial and axial components of strain-induced dimensional change adding together to enhance displacement. In another preferred embodiment, piezo bender elements produce large stroke, high bandwidth movements. Strokes of up to fifty percent of actuator length, and bandwidths above 500 Hz are achieved in light weight electrically actuated devices free of external piping or hydraulics. The actuator is readily integrated into a gate valve, sub-woofer, or other driven device.

6093995, Jul 25, 2000

Jan 25, 1999

9/237154

Kenneth B. Lazarus - Boston MA
Edward F. Crawley - Cambridge MA
Farla M. Russo - Brookline MA
Erik Saarmaa - Boston MA

Active Control eXperts, Inc. - Cambridge MA

H02H 202, H01L 4108

310328

A hybrid actuator includes strain actuated elements that displace fluid to move a piston, with the elements forming a fluid housing, and being oriented and actuated to optimize force, stroke or bandwidth. In one preferred embodiment the elements are cylinders enclosing the fluid, with radial and axial components of strain-induced dimensional change adding together to enhance displacement. In another preferred embodiment, piezo bender elements produce large stroke, high bandwidth movements. Strokes of up to fifty percent of actuator length, and bandwidths above 500 Hz are achieved in light weight electrically actuated devices free of external piping or hydraulics. The actuator is readily integrated into a gate valve, sub-woofer, or other driven device.

5866971, Feb 2, 1999

Aug 14, 1996

8/699680

Kenneth B. Lazarus - Boston MA
Edward F. Crawley - Cambridge MA
Farla M. Russo - Brookline MA
Erik Saarmaa - Boston MA

Active Control Experts, Inc. - Cambridge MA

H02H 202, H01L 4108

310328

A hybrid actuator includes strain actuated elements that displace fluid to move a piston, with the elements forming a fluid housing, and being oriented and actuated to optimize force, stroke or bandwidth. In one preferred embodiment the elements are cylinders enclosing the fluid, with radial and axial components of strain-induced dimensional change adding together to enhance displacement. In another preferred embodiment, piezo bender elements produce large stroke, high bandwidth movements. Strokes of up to fifty percent of actuator length, and bandwidths above 500 Hz are achieved in light weight electrically actuated devices free of external piping or hydraulics. The actuator is readily integrated into a gate valve, sub-woofer, or other driven device.