Actuatable capacitive transducer for quantitative nanoindentation combined with transmission electron microscopy

Patent · Tue Sep 21 00:00:00 EDT 2010

OSTI ID:1014683

Warren, Oden L ^[1]; Asif, S A. Syed ^[2]; Cyrankowski, Edward ^[3]; Kounev, Kalin ^[4]

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1. New Brighton, MN
2. Bloomington, MN
3. Woodbury, MN
4. Shoreview, MN

An actuatable capacitive transducer including a transducer body, a first capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as an electrostatic actuator, and a second capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as a capacitive displacement sensor, wherein the second capacitor comprises a multi-plate capacitor. The actuatable capacitive transducer further includes a coupling shaft configured to mechanically couple the displaceable electrode of the first capacitor to the displaceable electrode of the second capacitor to form a displaceable electrode unit which is displaceable relative to the transducer body, and an electrically-conductive indenter mechanically coupled to the coupling shaft so as to be displaceable in unison with the displaceable electrode unit.-

• Research Organization: Hysitron, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-04ER83979
• Assignee: Hysitron, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
• Patent Number(s): 7,798,011
• Application Number: US Patent Application 11/672,489
• OSTI ID: 1014683
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English